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County CouncilFriday, November 6

Spartanburg County Council passes three data center agreements on second reading

The Daily Spartanburg teamFrom today’s edition · 1 min read · 2 sources

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If you've followed the data center debate, council took a big step on Election Day. At a special-called meeting, Spartanburg County Council passed the second reading of three development agreements, and all three advance to third reading.

All three data center agreements passed, NorthMark's by 3-2

Data centerResultNo votes
NorthMark (Valara Holdings), Pine StreetPassed 3-2Abusaft, DeShields
AIB, Tyger River Industrial ParkPassedCoker
Jones RoadPassedCoker

Source: Post and Courier

Council member Monier Abusaft, one of the two no votes on 's agreement, said the company threatened legal action after council held back an earlier version. NorthMark did not respond to a request for comment. County administrator Cole Alverson said missing site plans and exhibits will be posted publicly before council's regular November meeting.

NorthMark's data center by the numbers

$2.8 billion
for NorthMark's self-powered data center
457 megawatts
planned for the Pine Street site
12 years
the NorthMark agreement would last if approved

Sources: Post and Courier, South Carolina Public Radio

  • Tax incentives: none for any of the three
  • AIB plans to give up an existing property tax break
  • Missing from NorthMark's: dates for sound study and mitigation plans
  • Jones Road and AIB: both must submit sound, light and landscaping plans

“This isn't transparency. It's a calculated corporate ambush designed to minimize our voices.”

Mark Gillespie, resident, on the 1 p.m. Election Day hearing

Sources: Post and Courier, South Carolina Public Radio

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  1. Post and CourierYesterday

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  4. FOX Carolina NewsNov. 4

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