News Summary
Spartanburg County is set to welcome a new data center with a staggering $2.76 billion investment by Northmark Strategies. Projected to start operations in 2026, it will be the second-most expensive economic development in South Carolina’s history. Despite environmental concerns over air pollution, the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services has amended the air emissions permit, ensuring stricter testing requirements. The data center aims to diminish reliance on the power grid while creating 27 full-time jobs. This project highlights a balance of economic growth and environmental responsibility in the region.
Spartanburg County will soon be home to a new data center at 4000 S. Pine St., with an investment of $2.76 billion. This monumental project, being led by Northmark Strategies, is expected to begin operations in 2026. The investment marks it as the second-most expensive economic development announcement in South Carolina’s history.
Environmental concerns have surfaced regarding the potential air pollution from the data center. Groups such as the Sierra Club Upstate highlighted the initial absence of enforceable limits on emissions from the facility. However, following community feedback, the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) amended its air emissions permit for the Valara data center, introducing stricter testing requirements. Ensuring compliance, the amended permit will mandate additional formaldehyde testing when operations begin and require emissions testing every three years.
Emily Wyche, senior attorney at the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC), explained that the revised permit now includes enforceable emissions limits. Northmark Strategies has expressed commitment to closely work with SCDES and other relevant agencies to adhere to all regulatory requirements. The data center will utilize natural gas to power its operations, addressing some concerns regarding the potential emission of pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and formaldehyde.
At capacity, the data center is designed to generate electricity independently, which is expected to decrease reliance on the power grid. Despite the hefty investment, the facility is projected to employ a modest 27 full-time workers.
To attract Northmark Strategies, Spartanburg County has offered significant financial incentives, including a reduced property tax rate of 4% for 40 years. This tax break is considerably lower than the standard 6% property tax rate typically applied to manufacturing entities without special arrangements. The project was referred to as “Project Moc-1” during negotiations before the official announcement.
The data center itself will undergo renovations in three phases, starting with a 350,000-square-foot former warehouse and concluding with a 500,000-square-foot manufacturing plant. The overall investment aims to facilitate complex computational tasks related to machine learning and data analytics, positioning Spartanburg County as a hub for advanced technological development.
This ambitious construction not only illustrates a significant economic development for South Carolina but also highlights the ongoing challenges of balancing economic growth with environmental responsibility. As the facility progresses towards completion, stakeholders, including environmental advocates and local residents, are closely watching the developments to ensure the project’s sustainability and compliance with environmental standards.
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Additional Resources
- Spartanburg County Data Center Investment – SC Daily Gazette
- Proposal for $2.8B Data Center – Data Center Dynamics
- Data Center Emissions Testing – The Post and Courier
- Northmark Strategies Plans Data Center – Upstate Business Journal
- High-Tech Computing Center – GSA Business
- Wikipedia: South Carolina
- Google Search: Data Centers
- Google Scholar: Data Centers
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Data Center
- Google News: Spartanburg County Data Center
Author: STAFF HERE SPARTANBURG
The SPARTANBURG STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERESpartanburg.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Spartanburg, Spartanburg County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Spartanburg International Festival, Spartanburg ArtWalk, and motorsport events at Spartanburg Speedway. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce and the Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System Foundation, plus leading businesses in manufacturing and textiles that power the local economy such as BMW Manufacturing and Milliken & Company. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAiken.com, HEREBeaufort.com, HEREChapin.com, HERECharleston.com, HEREClinton.com, HEREColumbia.com, HEREGeorgetown.com, HEREGreenwood.com, HEREGreenville.com, HEREHiltonHead.com, HEREIrmo.com, HEREMyrtleBeach.com, HERENewberry.com, HERERockHill.com, and HERESpartanburg.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into South Carolina's dynamic landscape.
