PACE Aiken

05/21/2026

PACE Aiken appreciates the work of Planning Commission members, Planning Director Joel Duke, Planning Department Staff, and County Council in bringing this comprehensive plan to fruition. We look forward to working together toward responsible and sustainable growth.

Link and full text of Aiken Standard article on passage of the Comprehensive Plan are included here.
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https://www.postandcourier.com/aikenstandard/news/local-government/aiken-couny-comprehensive-plan/article_49f443f2-0c57-4802-b76e-64c7cd7159af.html

𝗔𝗶𝗸𝗲𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗲𝘀 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰-𝟮𝟬𝟯𝟰 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗵𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵, 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

By Dede Biles [email protected]

AIKEN — Aiken County Council completed its work on the 2024-2034 Comprehensive Plan on May 19 by unanimously approving the third and final reading of an ordinance that made the set of guidelines official.

All nine members of the panel were present for the meeting at the Aiken County Government Center.

“I think there are some good recommendations in there and we’ll be taking a [further] look at them as we go forward,” said County Council Chairman Gary Bunker.

The purpose of the plan is to provide strategies and identify priorities for growth, land development and the protection of natural resources.

One of its stated goals is to balance the desire for growth with the preservation of natural resources.

“It’s a damn good plan,” said Aiken Land Conservancy Executive Director Peter Kleinhenz. “If used correctly, I really think it could be as popular among the business community as it is among the most ardent environmentalists in Aiken County because it’s got components of both. As the plan says, it’s seeking balance, and I think the more Aiken County works to find that balance, the more successful it will be.”

With the assistance of the County Planning and Develop Department’s staff, the County Planning Commission created the draft for Comprehensive Plan and then submitted it to County Council.

Asking the public for input was part of the process and there were revisions along the way based on suggestions from local residents.

Included in the Comprehensive Plan is a growth priorities map that outlines the county’s broad land development policy. It designates some parts of Aiken County as Rural Preservation Regions and also shows the areas that are the most suitable for further development.

Other areas and overlays also are identified.

“If you had asked me two years ago if I thought we would have a plan like the one we have now and it would have passed unanimously, I would have told you, 'You’re crazy,’” Kleinhenz said. “I don’t think the community at large and everybody associated with the plan recognized just how significant it could be for galvanizing people. But by getting community input like they (the county) did, it galvanized people and got them really excited about the conversation about growth and conservation. I think that was the amazing thing.”

The County Planning and Development Department’s staff conducted a number of Comprehensive Plan public information sessions and people also had the opportunity to submit their suggestions online.

With the finalization of the Comprehensive Plan, “we’re across the finish line and we’ve set the foundation, but we’re not across the finish line to make Aiken County as good as it can be,” Kleinhenz said. “And who can argue with that? You want that. I want that.”

Kleinhenz expressed hope that county staff and officials going forward would be “informed as much as possible by the plan they worked on” when making decisions.

The Planning Commission originally wanted to finish the Comprehensive Plan draft by the end of 2024, Chief County Development Officer Joel Duke told the Aiken Standard last fall, but he said “unexpected delays such as Hurricane Helene occurred.”

05/15/2026

On Tuesday evening, May 19, Aiken County Council will vote on third reading to adopt the updated Aiken County Comprehensive Plan 2024-2034. Council’s two prior votes were unanimously in favor of the plan, and we expect the same on Tuesday night.

The Comprehensive Plan (link below) is the foundation for responsible and sustainable growth in Aiken County. Its focus on balancing rapid development and rural preservation is already providing a mechanism to push back against industrial threats to rural, agricultural and equestrian areas. Your voices helped shape this plan and your persistence in this regard will make a real difference in our community!

Please mark your calendars and plan to attend the County Council meeting on Tuesday night to show your support for the new Comprehensive Plan.

𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟭𝟵 𝗮𝘁 𝟳𝗽𝗺
𝟯𝗿𝗱 𝗙𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗿 -- 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀
𝟭𝟵𝟯𝟬 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸𝘄𝗮𝘆, 𝗔𝗶𝗸𝗲𝗻

With gratitude,
The 𝗣𝗔𝗖𝗘 𝗔𝗶𝗸𝗲𝗻 Team

05/15/2026

PACE Aiken team members spent some time with Ethan Hunter on Thursday afternoon. He produced this great piece for WRDW News at 11 that perfectly captures what would have been spoiled by industrial development. We are grateful for the coverage.

Farmers in Aiken County are celebrating after a national energy company decided to pull out of plans to build a gas-fired power plant in the New Holland area.

05/09/2026

Here is the URL and full text of the article from the Aiken Standard documenting LS Power's decision to look elsewhere for a GFPP site.

https://www.postandcourier.com/aikenstandard/news/local/aiken-county-ls-power/article_7ed3135b-b32b-4b12-b9eb-108080b4179d.html

AIKEN — A company that was exploring the possibility of constructing a gas-fired power generation plant northeast of here in the New Holland Road area has decided to look elsewhere for a site.

S.C. Rep. Bill Taylor, R-Aiken, posted on Facebook recently that he and S.C. Sen. Tom Young, R-Aiken, met with officials of LS Power at the Statehouse in Columbia on May 7.

They discussed the concerns of “rural residents” about such a facility, Taylor wrote.

Then on May 8, according to Taylor, LS Power issued the following statement:

"LS Power greatly appreciates the opportunity to speak with Senator Young and Representative Taylor about the responsible development of new power generation to serve South Carolina’s growing electricity needs. Our goal is always to develop and operate energy infrastructure that fits and benefits our host communities.

“Recognizing South Carolina’s growing needs, we’ve been in the earliest phases of assessing feasibility, which includes securing real estate options near existing electrical substations, such as the one on New Holland Rd. These options allow us to assess the suitability of each potential site.

“We’ve decided not to advance development on any of the optioned sites near the New Holland Rd substation, because we concluded they are not a good fit for this type of use.

“We remain committed to being a constructive partner in addressing South Carolina’s growing need for power and will continue engaging locally to evaluate potential sites in more suitable areas.”

A petition expressing opposition to the location of the proposed gas-fired power plant and “associated industrial development in our agricultural and equestrian community” has more than 1,700 signatures, according to paceaiken.org.

Meanwhile, Aiken County Council is considering asking the County Planning Commission to look at whether power generation plants “should be allowable uses,” in Rural Development, or RUD, zoning districts.

County Council unanimously approved May 5 the first reading of an ordinance that would make that happen along with a related resolution.

Two more readings of the ordinance are required for it to take effect.

Based on the ordinance’s language, the Planning Commission would complete its work on the power generation plant issue and submit its recommendations to County Council within 30 days unless a majority of its members “determine by recorded vote that additional time is needed to study this matter.”

The Planning Commission then could request an extension from County Council.

“I think there is an interest” on the part of County Council to limit the construction of power generation plants to locations in Industrial Development, or IND, zoning districts, Chairman Gary Bunker told the Aiken Standard.

Much of the land northeast of Aiken in Aiken County is zoned RUD.

A company that was exploring the possibility of constructing a gas-fired power generation plant northeast of Aiken in the New Holland Road area has decided to look elsewhere for a

05/08/2026

Friends: Here is the URL to Dede Biles's article for the Aiken Standard about Tuesday night's County Council meeting. The full text of the article is also copied here.

=> We support the new Aiken County Comprehensive Plan. (𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘳𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘥𝘰𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘯 𝘔𝘢𝘺 19 -- 𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘥!)

=> We support County Council's efforts to ensure responsible, sustainable growth, including sensible zoning limitations on where power generation facilities may be located.

=> We believe in preserving and protecting rural, agricultural, and equestrian lands.

=> We believe industries belong in industrial areas.

Thank you for your support!
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https://www.postandcourier.com/aikenstandard/news/local-government/aiken-county-council-power-generation-plants/article_fc215a5a-8727-44ec-993b-5df1597309f7.html

𝘼𝙞𝙠𝙚𝙣 𝘾𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙮 𝘾𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙘𝙞𝙡 𝙎𝙚𝙚𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝘼𝙙𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙨 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙇𝙤𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙋𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧 𝙂𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙋

By Dede Biles [email protected]

AIKEN — Power generation plants and where they should be located are creating concerns for Aiken County Council members.

The panel is considering asking the County Planning Commission to explore whether such facilities “should be allowable uses” in Rural Development, or RUD, zoning districts.

County Council unanimously approved May 5 the first reading of an ordinance that would make that happen along with a related resolution.

Two more readings of the ordinance are required for it to take effect.

Based on the ordinance’s language, the Planning Commission would complete its work on the power generation plant issue and submit its recommendations to County Council within 30 days unless a majority of its members “determine by recorded vote that additional time is needed to study this matter.”

The Planning Commission then could request an extension from County Council.

“I think there is an interest” on the part of County Council to limit the construction of power generation plants to locations in Industrial Development, or IND, zoning districts, Chairman Gary Bunker said.

All nine members of County Council were present at the May 5 meeting, which was held at the Aiken County Government Center.

The Aiken Standard reported in April that LS Power was looking at multiple sites in and around Aiken County for new electrical generation projects.

Independent agents representing the company have contacted local residents and are seeking tracts of at least 50 acres for a gas-fired power generation plant, according to the Aiken Standard.

They are offering three-year options to purchase with monthly progress payments toward a final sale at prices as high as three times the going rate.

There are properties targeted in the Montmorenci and New Holland areas because of their proximity to a Santee Cooper electrical substation.

Some landowners reportedly have signed options with LS Power.

More than 1,700 people have signed a petition opposing LS Power’s plan for a gas-fired power plant, according to 𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗮𝗶𝗸𝗲𝗻.𝗼𝗿𝗴.

Meanwhile, County Council is in the process of considering a 2024-2034 Comprehensive Plan that designates most of the Aiken County area north of Aiken, where Montmorenci and New Holland are located, as a Rural Preservation Region.

Much of the land there is zoned RD, which has few restrictions and allows for the construction of power generation plants.

Buildings can’t be more than 35 feet in height, but when plans call for exceeding that limit, a variance or zoning change can be requested, Bunker said.

Also May 5, County Council unanimously approved the second reading of an ordinance that would finalize the 2024-2034 Comprehensive Plan.

The Planning Commission prepared and completed a Comprehensive Plan draft with assistance from the County Planning and Development Department’s staff.

Public input also was received.

“If we are going to take the new Comprehensive Plan seriously, are we going to allow these great inconsistencies?” said Bunker, referring to the possible construction of power generation plants in Rural Preservation Regions in the future.

There was a standing-room-only crowd in Council Chambers for County Council’s May 5 meeting.

When given the opportunity to address the panel, most of the attendees who chose to speak talked about the 2024-2034 Comprehensive Plan, expressed opposition to the construction of a power plant by LS Power or complained about a 115-kilovolt transmission line that Central Electric Power Cooperative plans to build and data centers.

Aiken County Council is considering asking the County Planning Commission to explore whether such power generation plants “should be allowable uses” in Rural Development, or RUD, zoning districts.

05/06/2026

Friends and supporters: Thank you for packing County Council chambers tonight. We will share more thoughts soon on what happens now/next, but for this moment we are savoring what we perceive to be a momentum shift in local government attitudes toward protecting rural, agricultural, and equestrian lands in Aiken County.

Please stay tuned!

05/05/2026

Friends of Aiken:

𝗣𝗔𝗖𝗘 𝗔𝗶𝗸𝗲𝗻 is a grassroots alliance advocating for sustainable growth and protection of rural lands, open spaces, and natural resources.

We are enthusiastic and optimistic about protecting our rural, agricultural, and equestrian areas from the threat of industrial development.

Please continue to spread our message -- 𝙄𝙣𝙙𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝘽𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣 𝙄𝙣𝙙𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝘼𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙨! -- and encourage your friends and neighbors to:
1) visit 𝗣𝗔𝗖𝗘𝗔𝗶𝗸𝗲𝗻.𝗼𝗿𝗴;
2) sign our petition; and
3) add themselves to our email list.

We appreciate your support!

05/03/2026

Hey friends,

We want to share a few important reminders.

On April 21, at the first of three required readings, County Council heard public comments on the 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗵𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻 and voted unanimously to approve it. Although the public comment period has closed, you can still 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗯𝘆 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝘄𝗼 𝘂𝗽𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟭𝟵. We expect Council to vote in support of the plan at both meetings, with final adoption anticipated on May 19. Please note that since there is no public hearing scheduled for these sessions, we will attend as silent supporters. (Maybe we will stand up and applaud when the plan passes!) These meetings will be great opportunities to meet your county representatives and the PACE Aiken community. Being present in the room to show support is always appreciated.

Aiken County Council meets 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟭𝟵, 𝗮𝘁 𝟳𝗽𝗺 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝟯𝟲𝟭𝟬 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗶𝗸𝗲𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘆 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿, 𝟭𝟵𝟯𝟬 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸𝘄𝗮𝘆. (Park in the back, furthest away from University Parkway, the side without the columns.)

Reminder: The Comprehensive Plan is a guide for how and where Aiken County will grow in the next eight years. After the plan passes on May 19th, it will be up to us, the voters in Aiken County, to make sure our Planning Commission and County Council follow the plan, including the growth priorities that 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗺𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗿𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀.

Thank you for reading!
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗔𝗖𝗘 𝗔𝗶𝗸𝗲𝗻 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺

04/28/2026

We have updated the website to include the newest updates on the Gas Fired Power Plant issue. Aiken Energy Center, LLC has successfully optioned 6 parcels totaling approximately 580 acres in the eastern corridor. Learn more on the website. https://paceaiken.org/services/gas-fired-power-plant/