Development company responds to request for injunction to halt Upstate data center project
The Southern Environmental Law Center (SCLC) and local residents have filed a lawsuit against Valara and Spartanburg County, seeking to halt a $2.8 billion data center project. They accuse the developer and county of avoiding the public planning commission process by treating the project as a minor land development. The SCLC has also filed a preliminary injunction to temporarily stop construction.
The Southern Environmental Law Center (SCLC) has filed a lawsuit and requested a preliminary injunction against Valara and Spartanburg County in South Carolina, aiming to halt construction of a $2.8 billion data center project.
Neighbors and the SCLC accuse the developer and the county of circumventing the public planning commission process by classifying the data center as a minor land development, which allows it to be reviewed by staff instead of the planning commission. The SCLC is seeking a court order to declare that Spartanburg County must comply with its own ordinance and require Valara to obtain a major land development permit.
Additionally, the SCLC requests a permanent injunction to stop the county from processing Valara's minor land development permit application, and has now filed a preliminary injunction for a temporary halt during the ongoing legal proceedings. Spartanburg County officials have stated they trust the legal process to achieve a fair outcome. Valara responded by saying the project has been developed in close coordination with state and local authorities and they are committed to moving forward responsibly and in compliance with all applicable requirements.