‘A fact finding journey’: Spartanburg County holds special meeting on data centers
Spartanburg County Council held a special work session to discuss data centers, specifically a Valara Holdings project, in response to community concerns. Experts addressed environmental topics such as air quality, noise, water, gas, and electricity. The Valara data center is already facing a lawsuit from neighbors, and the county is considering a one-year moratorium on data center development.
Spartanburg County Council held a five-hour special work session to gather information on data centers, specifically focusing on a Valara Holdings project, drawing a packed crowd and extra security. Council Member Monier Abusaft described the session as a "fact finding journey," with no votes taken, to educate council members on the issue.
Experts addressed council members on various topics, including air quality, noise, water, gas, electricity, and community and environmental impacts. Chief Rhonda Thompson of the Bureau of Air Quality reported that Valara Holdings was issued a permit in September for 24 natural gas generators and has a pending application for 11 natural gas turbines. Joseph Bridger, president of Stewart Acoustical Consultants, discussed data centers as a prominent source of noise-related concerns.
The Valara data center project is currently facing a lawsuit filed by neighbors and the South Carolina Environmental Law Center, which contends the project should not have been approved as a minor project. The county council is expected to vote within weeks on a proposed ordinance that would enact a one-year moratorium on data center development in Spartanburg County.
Abusaft reiterated that the session's purpose was to learn facts together and help the council make informed decisions.