Spartanburg County council to consider data center ordinance
Spartanburg County Council is scheduled to consider a proposed ordinance that would pause data center development in the community. This follows significant community pushback from groups like "No Data Centers in Spartanburg," who have raised concerns about transparency and the energy consumption of a proposed 151-acre data center site on Jones Road.
The Spartanburg County Council in South Carolina is slated to convene on Monday at 9 a.m. to deliberate on a proposed ordinance that would impose a temporary halt on data center development within the county. The agenda for the meeting indicates that the council will review information and decide on the ordinance.
This consideration comes amidst growing community opposition, spearheaded by a Facebook group named "No Data Centers in Spartanburg." This group organized a march earlier this year, expressing strong concerns regarding a proposed 151-acre data center site on Jones Road.
Emory Caraviello, a member of the opposition group, highlighted issues with the transparency of the county leaders' decision-making process. Caraviello stated that data center projects, initiated in 2022, lacked public visibility until late last year, leading to a lack of understanding among many residents living close to the proposed developments. Key concerns raised by the group include the substantial energy demands of data centers and their potential broader impact on local residents.