Spartanburg County Council plans data center moratorium as new project looms
Spartanburg County Council is moving to implement a moratorium on new data center construction, driven by public discontent with existing projects and concerns over a newly proposed facility at 300 Jones Road. The unanimous vote allows the county to review its ordinances and await state legislation regarding data centers' significant power and water demands. This action, while not affecting the already approved NorthMark data center, responds to constituent concerns and potential environmental impacts.
Spartanburg County Council has initiated steps towards implementing a moratorium on new data center construction, responding to widespread public dissatisfaction with the NorthMark data center project and the potential development of another facility at 300 Jones Road. Councilmember Jessica Coker successfully moved to direct county officials to draft an ordinance halting new data centers until state legislation can be developed and the county can review its own regulations. This action follows similar considerations in other South Carolina communities, including Greenwood County, which is also considering a 12-month data center moratorium.
The decision by the council comes amid criticism of incumbents Coker and Jack Mabry, who are facing runoff challengers campaigning against further data center development. Both Coker and Mabry had previously approved tax incentives for the NorthMark data center, which has generated concerns among nearby residents regarding potential air pollution and noise from its gas-burning turbines, designed for a 450-megawatt capacity. The proposed moratorium, however, will not affect the NorthMark project, which is already under construction.
The impetus for the pause also stems from the realization that new facilities, like "Project Lighthouse" at 300 Jones Road, might still pursue development even without tax incentives. This site, which previously housed a bitcoin mining operation, has a history of land transactions involving Greenidge Generation Holdings, Data Journey LLC, and most recently, an affiliate of The Lightstone Group and LightHouse Data Centers, which acquired the remaining 152 acres for a planned data center. Councilmember Grant DeShields emphasized that the moratorium is intended to allow the county to thoroughly assess the impact of data centers on the power grid, water resources, environmental safety, and noise levels.