Spartanburg data center that got tax breaks wants 400 megawatt energy production increase

The NorthMark Strategies high-performance computing data center in Spartanburg, South Carolina, has submitted a request to significantly increase its power generation capacity from 48 megawatts to over 450 megawatts. This proposed expansion, less than a year after receiving its initial permit, involves adding five 17-megawatt and six 54-megawatt natural gas combustion turbines, along with ancillary equipment like a diesel pump engine, hot-water boilers, and cooling towers. The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) has expressed alarm over this request, citing potential increases in air pollutants such as particulate matter, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, hazardous air pollutants, and nitrous oxides. SELC attorney Emily Wyche noted that the facility, in essence, operates like a gas-fired power plant and raised concerns about the potential health issues for the surrounding community. The SELC previously advocated for stricter enforcement of air pollution limits under the facility's original permit, which it deemed insufficient. NorthMark Strategies did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The S.C. Department of Environmental Services is currently reviewing the application to ensure compliance with state and federal regulations. Following this review, a draft permit will be published for a 30-day public comment period. This expansion proposal follows Spartanburg County Council's unanimous vote in April 2025 to grant NorthMark property tax breaks as an incentive for establishing the data center.