Oral Arguments Begin Over Proposed Data Center in Spartanburg County
State regulators are holding oral arguments regarding a proposed 450-megawatt data center in Spartanburg County, South Carolina. The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC), representing concerned citizens, argues that Valara, the developer, bypassed state environmental and public disclosure laws.
The South Carolina Public Service Commission (PSC) is currently hearing oral arguments concerning a substantial 450-megawatt data center proposed for Spartanburg County. The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC), acting on behalf of local citizens and the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, contends that the facility's developer, Valara, has failed to comply with the state's Utility Facility Siting Act.
According to the SELC, this alleged bypass of the act means Valara moved forward without the required public disclosure and formal state commission approval, effectively sidestepping a review of the project's potential community and environmental impacts. Environmental groups are pressing for the construction to be halted until proper regulatory oversight is established.