Arguments heard in court over Valara data center in Spartanburg Co.
A judge heard arguments in court regarding lawsuits and an injunction to pause construction of the Valara data center in Spartanburg County, South Carolina. Key points of contention included whether the project constitutes a major or minor land development and the potential harms faced by nearby residents. A decision is expected in weeks, but construction at the site continues.
A judge in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, heard arguments in lawsuits seeking to dismiss motions against the Valara data center project and an injunction to halt its ongoing construction. Over three hours, attorneys debated whether the data center should be classified as a major or minor land development, a classification that significantly impacts project requirements and oversight. The defendants argued that the court should disregard the planned meeting of major or minor, likening the data center to a power plant capable of fueling every home in the county.
Local counsel for the project asserted that the Valara data center, a $2.8 billion development, had been discussed in three council meetings and reported in local news, implying public awareness. However, counsel representing local citizens contended that this was not accurate. Another central argument revolved around the potential harms to nearby residents from the construction, with citizens' attorneys stating that the company's actions, such as offering buyouts, contradict their claims that the harms are not real. The judge's decision is anticipated to take several weeks, during which construction at the Valara site continues. Separately, a new poll by the Center for Public Affairs and Research and the University of Chicago found that 53% of Americans are extremely or very concerned about data centers, indicating a unified concern across political parties.