Attorney speaks more on Spartanburg Co. data center lawsuit
A lawsuit is escalating in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, concerning a nearly $3 billion data center project by Valera Holdings. Residents and the South Carolina Environmental Law Center are suing the county and the company, arguing the project was improperly approved as a minor development, circumventing public review. Concerns include potential impacts on water quality and air emissions from the facility, with a hearing scheduled for July 30th in Columbia.
A legal battle is intensifying in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, over a nearly $3 billion data center project developed by Valera Holdings. The dispute centers on the county's decision to classify the facility, located at the old Kohler plant on South Pine Street just outside the city, as a minor development, thus exempting it from a public review process required for major developments.
Nearby residents, represented by the South Carolina Environmental Law Center, have filed a lawsuit against Spartanburg County and Valera Holdings. Lead attorney Frank Holleman argues that a $3 billion project of over 900,000 square feet, with an additional 400,000 square feet recently applied for, cannot reasonably be considered minor. Residents, including Nancy Garner, express significant concerns about the project's environmental impact, specifically regarding water quality and air emissions, citing formaldehyde from natural gas combustion as a cancer risk. Holleman pointed to a much smaller, 87,000 square foot scrap metal facility that was reviewed as a major development, highlighting the inconsistency.
The lawsuit asserts that the county's approval violates local ordinances designed to protect residents' rights to information and public decision-making. Residents hope the county will acknowledge the misclassification. A hearing for the lawsuit is scheduled for July 30th in Columbia. FOX Carolina News has reached out to both Valera Holdings and Spartanburg County for comment on why the project was classified as minor, but has yet to receive a response.