Spartanburg environmental regulators recently approved a data center’s plan to generate 457 megawatts using gas generators. This decision, made by state environmental regulators, has faced opposition from various Spartanburg County residents and environmental groups.
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) issued a final air permit on September 19, allowing the data center to move forward with its energy generation plans. This permit includes provisions for 100 gas turbines, each capable of producing 4.9 megawatts of electricity. The facility will be located on a 200-acre site near the intersection of I-26 and I-20, corridors vital to Spartanburg’s infrastructure and economic activity. The site is also close to the Harbison/I-26 corridor, a significant area for the region’s insurance and financial services sector.
Concerns have been raised regarding the potential for increased air pollution, specifically fine particulate matter and hazardous air pollutants. The Southern Environmental Law Center, representing a group of residents, has expressed apprehension about the environmental impact. Sarah Knox, a senior attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center, noted that the facility would be one of the largest fossil fuel-burning power plants in South Carolina. The organization has indicated it is evaluating its options following DHEC’s decision.
The data center project is expected to bring significant energy infrastructure to the Spartanburg area, supporting the growing digital economy. However, the environmental implications of such a large-scale fossil fuel operation remain a central point of contention for local residents and advocacy groups.
