Judge will decide later on request to halt Spartanburg data center construction
A judge is set to decide on a request to halt construction of a nearly $3 billion data center in Spartanburg County, South Carolina. Residents and environmental groups are suing, arguing the county improperly classified the project as a minor development, thus bypassing public review. They also raised concerns about the data center's significant power and water demands.
A hearing was held in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, regarding a lawsuit that aims to halt construction of a nearly $3 billion data center. The legal challenge centers on the county's classification of the data center as a minor development, which allowed it to proceed without the public review process typically required for major projects, including scrutiny by the County's Planning Commission.
Citizens involved in the lawsuit, supported by the South Carolina Environmental Law Center, contend that the "Valara Data Center" on South Pine Street is the largest project in county history and should have been designated a major development. Residents expressed their frustration, stating they were initially misled about the project's true nature and were denied an opportunity for public input regarding its potential impacts, such as significant electricity consumption (described as equivalent to a "whole power plant" at 48 megawatts) and water usage.
The County, however, argues that the lawsuit is a procedural challenge regarding the type of permit issued, not a direct objection to the data center itself, and maintains that construction is ongoing under a valid permit. A judge will make a decision later on the request to stop construction.