Special Meeting Addresses Data Center Project
A special meeting is scheduled for Monday afternoon concerning the Northmark Strategies Data Center project on South Pine Street. This meeting follows a series of controversial gatherings and lawsuits related to local data center development.
The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services has approved the Northmark Strategies Data Center to operate eleven simple cycle combustion turbines. Meanwhile, residents and community leaders are advocating for data center construction to be classified as a major land development. This classification would require public meetings, community comment, and additional information disclosure.
The Valara data center project, which spans half a million square feet, includes a 450-megawatt gas-fired power plant. Spartanburg County council members announced in February 2026 that they would not vote on new data center-related matters until state lawmakers establish new rules, protocols, and safeguards. The specially-called meeting about data centers is slated for 2:30 PM Monday in council chambers at the Spartanburg County Administrative Office building.
