Data center ordinance in Spartanburg County passes first reading
Spartanburg County leaders gave a first reading to a development agreement for the Valara data center under construction along South Pine Street outside Spartanburg city limits. The proposed agreement would expand county oversight to air, water, noise and lighting impacts, while a previously approved one-year pause on new data centers remains in effect.
Spartanburg County Council held a special meeting to consider the first reading of a development agreement for the Valara data center, which is under construction along South Pine Street just outside the city limits. The agreement would give the county oversight beyond standard permits, including monitoring air, water, noise and lighting impacts during and after construction, as well as reviewing plans and post-construction measures.
The agreement must receive two additional readings before it can be approved. The discussion follows the county’s passage of a one-year pause on new data center development, reflecting heightened scrutiny of the industry’s potential environmental and community impacts.