Spartanburg County Council Delays Vote on Data Center Moratorium
Spartanburg County Council delayed a vote on a proposed 12-month moratorium for new data centers until September 21, aiming to gather more public input on the scope of the pause. This delay allows officials to consider how to regulate future data center developments while addressing resident concerns over environmental impacts and a lawsuit regarding a permit for the NorthMark project.
Spartanburg County Council unanimously voted to delay the third reading of a proposed 12-month moratorium on new data center developments until September 21. The decision, spearheaded by Council Member Monier Abusaft, aims to allow for an additional Public Safety Committee meeting where the public can provide input on the scope and breadth of the proposed pause. Residents expressed strong opposition to data centers at the Aug. 17 council meeting, citing concerns over power and water consumption, noise, and air pollution, particularly from projects like NorthMark.
The proposed moratorium, if approved, would not halt the ongoing NorthMark project but would pause approvals for new or pending data center plans within the county. This pause is intended to give county officials time to establish regulations for future data center construction. Despite the delay, the county can still deny data center applications. The move comes amid a lawsuit against Spartanburg County for alleged non-compliance with land use regulations concerning NorthMark's development permit.
Several council members, including Jessica Coker and Jack Mabry, faced criticism and lost primary elections, with challengers campaigning against data centers and for greater transparency. The NorthMark facility is projected to consume significant water and generate over 450 megawatts of power, primarily from on-site natural gas turbines, raising air pollution concerns despite alleviating strain on the local electric grid.