Data Centers' Arrival Prompts Demands for Community Benefits and Protections
An opinion column discusses the inevitability of data center development in South Carolina and advocates for communities to demand benefits and protections in return, particularly regarding electricity and water prices, and local hiring. It references existing data center projects by NorthMark in Spartanburg and QTS in York County, highlighting community concerns about utility impacts.
An opinion piece in the Post and Courier, penned by Cory Alpert, argues that while the expansion of AI infrastructure and data centers is an unavoidable reality, local communities, particularly in South Carolina, should not passively accept their arrival.
Alpert asserts that communities must demand tangible benefits and protections in exchange for hosting these massive facilities. Specific data center projects are highlighted, including NorthMark Data Center under construction in Spartanburg and a QTS Data Center site in the Clover area of York County. York County resident Steve Penland raised concerns to the York County Council regarding the potential adverse impact of the planned QTS facility on local utilities like electricity and water, especially for nearby residents and businesses, such as his Christmas tree farm.
The author emphasizes the need for robust zoning laws and regulations to ensure that data centers do not increase power and water costs for residents, hire local workers, and adhere to the same rules as other industries. He also proposes that cities consider data as a public resource, encouraging the development of local, publicly managed data centers and leveraging existing city server capacity to support local businesses and foster talent retention.