Spartanburg County Council pursues moratorium to halt data centers
Spartanburg County Council has voted to draft a one-year moratorium on new data center development, intending to create a comprehensive plan for managing growth. This action follows public opposition to a rejected tax incentive proposal for TigerDC and concerns over other planned facilities by NorthMark Strategies and LightHouse. The moratorium aims to provide officials with time to establish a long-term strategy for data center expansion in the county.
Spartanburg County Council has formally voted 6-0 to direct its administrators to draft a one-year moratorium on new data center development within the county. The measure, proposed by Council member Jessica Coker, aims to provide officials with time to develop a comprehensive plan for managing future data center growth. This decision comes in response to significant public outcry regarding data center projects over the past year.
Notably, the council had previously rejected a tax incentive package, code-named Project Spero, for a data center proposed by New York-based TigerDC following public opposition. Additionally, another facility owned by NorthMark Strategies is currently under construction after receiving a fee-in-lieu-of-taxes agreement. Council leaders also learned of plans for a data center project by LightHouse, which intended to proceed without requesting tax incentives.
Former plans for a cryptocurrency facility by Greenidge Generation, which had been hailed by Council chairman Manning Lynch and Gov. Henry McMaster, saw the property sold to Lightstone Parent, LLC and LightHouse Data Centers, LLC. Council member Coker expressed hope that the one-year moratorium would allow county and state officials to establish a cohesive strategy for data center development. In a separate action, the council approved a fee-in-lieu-of-taxes agreement for DETPAK USA, LLC, an Australian packaging company establishing its first U.S. facility in Spartanburg.