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Spartanburg SC Politics & Government · Politics of Data

Data Center: News, Information & Resource Center for Spartanburg SC

Who decides where data centers go near Spartanburg — zoning and planning, the local elected board, the county, the state utility commission, and environmental permits — plus what is on file and reporting from across the HERE network.

Zoning & PlanningCity CouncilCountyUtility CommissionPermitsGrid
Politics of Data

Who Decides on Data Centers Near Spartanburg

DATA CENTER: NEWS, INFORMATION & RESOURCE CENTER FOR SPARTANBURG

HERE Spartanburg has been following data-center decisions that reach Spartanburg — the stories are below, along with every official body that would have a say.

A data center in or near Spartanburg would first need local land-use approval through City of Spartanburg, and Spartanburg County Council weighs in on land outside city limits and on tax incentives. The Public Service Commission of South Carolina is the state utility regulator; it reviews rates and large-customer power contracts for the utilities it oversees. Air and water permits come from the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services.

National context: Federal energy researchers estimate data centers used about 4.4% of all U.S. electricity in 2023 and could use 6.7% to 12% by 2028, which is why utility commissions, local boards, and voters are now central to where these campuses land. U.S. Department of Energy report

What’s on file near Spartanburg

  • On file so farNo local data-center campus vote is on file for Spartanburg yet; here is HERE Spartanburg's reporting so far.

HERE Spartanburg data center coverage

Who decides: zoning, councils, utility regulators & permits

Zoning & Planning

Local Elected Body

County

State Utility Regulator

Environmental, Water & Air Permits

From across the HERE network

HERE Spartanburg · Politics of Data Brief
Get the data center white paper for Spartanburg

A plain-language briefing on who decides, what the power contracts mean for your bill, and which communities near Spartanburg are next. Leave your email and HERE Spartanburg will send it as soon as it is published.

Building data centers, or organizing around them? Use the same form to get more information or to get your message out to Spartanburg readers.

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Updated weekly. Last updated Nov 6, 2026.

Questions & Answers

Data Centers Near Spartanburg: FAQ

Who approves a data center rezoning near Spartanburg?

Rezonings and site plans go through local land-use officials: in Spartanburg that is City of Spartanburg, Spartanburg City Council, with Spartanburg County Council handling land outside city limits and county tax incentives. Planning commissions hold public hearings and recommend; the elected board casts the final vote.

Who approves large power contracts for data centers in South Carolina?

The Public Service Commission of South Carolina is the state utility regulator. It reviews rates and the large-customer contracts and tariffs that utilities it oversees propose for data centers.

Which South Carolina agency issues environmental permits for a data center?

The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services issues the air, water, and wastewater permits a large facility needs, including permits for backup generators.

How can a Spartanburg resident weigh in on a data center?

Speak or submit written comments at planning commission and council or board meetings, where agendas are posted in advance, and file public comments in utility cases at the state commission. The official links on this page go straight to those bodies.

What data center decisions are on file near Spartanburg?

HERE Spartanburg has published recent reporting on data-center decisions affecting the area, linked on this page, including: Three Data Center Deals Clear Second Vote in Spartanburg; Council Backs NorthMark Data Center Deal Draft in Spartanburg; Spartanburg County Council Revisits Valara Data Center Deal.

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Data Center Coverage Across HERE

Resource centers for other HERE cities

Aiken, SCBeaufort, SCDorman, SCCharleston, SCClemson, SCClinton, SCSpartanburg, SCFlorence, SCGreenville, SCGreenwood, SCGreer, SCHilton Head Island, SCSpartanburg, SCLexington, SC
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LOCAL NEWS NEAR SPARTANBURG SC

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