NorthMark Spartanburg County Data Center, in order
What happened with this project, oldest first: the stages it reached, what the county and its cities decided, and every dated step on the record. Each entry links its source.
8 events, March 2025 to September 21, 2026. Also on the record, under the month each belongs to: 12 statements, 13 figures from other sources and 35 lines that are not events of their own. The facts, newest first: the record; the place: South Carolina.
A plain date is the day it happened, as the source states it, or as the line's own sentence states it ("voted on July 6"), which is where the line sits even when it was filed later. "Reported" and a date is the day a source published a line that carries no date of its own. Those lines, and lines that describe rather than report an act, sit under their month rather than on the timeline, with what was said and the figures other sources gave. Every timeline on the site reads its lines by this one rule. How dates are read.
Stages
2025 1 event
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(the month its own sentence names; no day is given; filed under Sep 10, 2026)
Entry
Valara project became public in March 2025 when Spartanburg County began negotiating tax incentives for project creating 27 jobs [14]
2026 7 events
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Also in June 2026: 1 line that is not an event of its own
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Decision · Spartanburg County (county)
Spartanburg County Council is planning a data center moratorium postandcourier.com
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Decision · Spartanburg County (county)
Southern Environmental Law Center filed lawsuit July 6, 2026 on behalf of concerned citizens group challenging Spartanburg County land development classification myclintonnews.com
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Decision · Spartanburg County (county)
Spartanburg County Council unanimously approved second reading of a moratorium ordinance on July 20, 2026 goupstate.com
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Also in July 2026: 2 figures from other sources and 1 line that is not an event of its own
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Decision · Spartanburg County (county)
Lawsuit by Concerned Citizens of Spartanburg County and Southern Environmental Law Center challenges NorthMark's minor designation for a major land development project goupstate.com
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Figure · www.goupstate.com
2,800,000,000 dollars: NorthMark data center project is valued at 2.8 billion dollars www.goupstate.com local outlet
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Figure · www.goupstate.com
450 MW: A 450 megawatt power station could supply electricity for about 400,000 homes www.goupstate.com local outlet
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(the month its own sentence names; no day is given; filed under Sep 17, 2026)
Entry
Spartanburg County Planning Commission voted last month to halt the stalled Lighthouse data center project. [15]
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reported
LightHouse Data Centers proposed a project covering about 151 acres along Jones Road with an approximately 200,000 square foot building [6]
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Also in August 2026: 2 statements and 5 lines that are not events of their own
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Entry
The project would have created about 50 jobs [6]
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Decision · Spartanburg County (county)
Spartanburg County Council delayed a final vote on the proposed moratorium on new data center development until September wyff4.com
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Decision · Spartanburg County (county)
Board of Zoning Appeals cited non compliance items and the proposed Spartanburg County data center moratorium in denying the appeal wyff4.com
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Decision · Spartanburg County (county)
Spartanburg County Board of Zoning Appeals denied the developer's appeal wyff4.com
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(said in the source itself)
Statement · Eric Allison, Spartanburg resident
Eric Allison runs a Facebook group against data centers with more than 8000 members WYFF local outlet
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(said in the source itself)
Statement · Nick Etschied, LightHouse CEO
LightHouse CEO Nick Etschied stated the company has invested more than $28 million in the project WYFF local outlet
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Entry
South Carolina approved nearly 3 billion dollar data center in Spartanburg County [12]
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Decision · Spartanburg County (county)
Hearing held Thursday morning on whether to halt construction of Valara data center along South Pine Street; judge took issue under advisement. foxcarolina.com
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(the day its own sentence names; filed under Sep 21, 2026)
Entry
South Carolina Department of Environmental Services granted permit September 18 for 11 natural gas turbines generating additional 408 megawatts, bringing total capacity to 457 megawatts [16]
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Decision · Spartanburg County (county)
Spartanburg County Council held special meeting on Monday to discuss data center projects and vote on countywide moratorium on new data center projects yahoo.com
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Also in September 2026: 10 statements, 11 figures from other sources and 28 lines that are not events of their own
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(said in the source itself)
Statement · Jessica Holdman, reporter, South Carolina Daily Gazette
Company originally said it needed 50 megawatts, then said it would need 450 megawatts worth of generators on site South Carolina Public Radio local outlet
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Figure · South Carolina Public Radio
50 MW: Northmark Strategies data center in Spartanburg County increased required generator capacity from 50MW to 450MW South Carolina Public Radio local outlet
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Entry
NorthMark was approved about two years ago through a public process including three readings and a public hearing [13]
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Entry
NorthMark data center construction continues on South Pine Street [13]
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Entry
Valara Holdings data center initially approved as minor project, now subject to community opposition and legal challenge [1]
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Decision · Spartanburg County (county)
The potential one year data center moratorium is expected to return before Spartanburg County Council on September 21st wspa.com
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Decision · Spartanburg County (county)
Council delayed a vote on the data center moratorium pending more information wspa.com
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Decision · Spartanburg County (county)
Spartanburg County Council held a second special public safety committee hearing on a potential one year moratorium on new data center developments wspa.com
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Decision · Spartanburg County (county)
Spartanburg County Council held a second hearing on the NorthMark Data Center proposal foxcarolina.com
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Decision · Spartanburg County (county)
Committee held five hour meeting about a month ago with experts from power and water sectors and South Carolina Department of Environmental Services foxcarolina.com
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Decision · Spartanburg County (county)
County Council moved through first two readings of proposed 12 month data center moratorium; moratorium currently in effect under pending ordinance doctrine; final vote expected later this month foxcarolina.com
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Decision · Spartanburg County (county)
Spartanburg County Council Public Safety Committee holding second hearing on data centers Wednesday September 9 at 5:30 p.m. foxcarolina.com
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Decision · Spartanburg County (county)
County planning and development staff denied proposed data center on Jones Road citing Unified Land Management Ordinance violations and noting inability to accept second application due to moratorium under consideration foxcarolina.com
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Decision · Spartanburg County (county)
Spartanburg County Council considering one year moratorium on new data centers foxcarolina.com
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(said in the source itself)
Statement · Frank Holleman, Senior Attorney, Southern Environmental Law Center
Frank Holleman, senior attorney with Southern Environmental Law Center, questioned air quality modeling and formaldehyde exposure limits WSPA 7News local outlet
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(said in the source itself)
Statement · Sarah Knox, NorthMark Director of External Affairs
Sarah Knox, NorthMark Director of External Affairs, stated the project meets DES and EPA regulations according to plain reading WSPA 7News local outlet
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Entry
NorthMark Strategies converting Kohler kitchen and bath manufacturing plant into $2.8 billion computing center on 300 acres [14]
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Decision · Spartanburg County (county)
Residents stormed out during data center debate in Spartanburg County foxcarolina.com
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Statement · Southern Environmental Law Center
Southern Environmental Law Center advocated for a pause on data centers and raised concerns about a data center currently under construction on South Pine Street FOX Carolina News local outlet
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Statement · Sarah Knox, director of external affairs for NorthMark Strategies
NorthMark is complying with state laws and is still waiting on an air permit to operate and hopes to receive it by the end of the year FOX Carolina News local outlet
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Figure · The Clinton Chronicle
2,000 kW: Valara facility permitted for 24 natural gas generators at 2000 kilowatts each The Clinton Chronicle local outlet
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Figure · The Clinton Chronicle
17 MW: Valara applied for additional 5 natural gas combustion turbines at 17 megawatts each and 6 turbines at 54 megawatts each The Clinton Chronicle local outlet
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Figure · The Clinton Chronicle
50 MW: Valara initially approved for 50 megawatts but amended application to 450 megawatts The Clinton Chronicle local outlet
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Entry
The meeting lasted five hours with public, experts, and council members debating a data center project [7]
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Decision · Spartanburg County (county)
Spartanburg County Council held a special meeting on data center development wyff4.com
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(said in the source itself)
Statement · Frank Holleman, Southern Environmental Law Center
Frank Holleman, Southern Environmental Law Center, raised concerns about formaldehyde pollution from on site power generation WYFF local outlet
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(said in the source itself)
Statement · Sarah Knox, Valara Holdings Computing Center spokesperson
Sarah Knox, Valara Holdings spokesperson, said the project would use 97 percent of its own energy capacity and minimize grid reliance WYFF local outlet
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(said in the source itself)
Statement · Sarah Knox, Valara Holdings Computing Center spokesperson
Sarah Knox said the project will not use groundwater aquifers or wells WYFF local outlet
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Entry
Construction on the Valara site has already begun and continues while court considers the classification decision. [15]
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Entry
State Circuit Court judge delayed decision on Valara data center construction in Spartanburg. [15]
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Decision · Spartanburg County (county)
Judge will decide later on request to halt Spartanburg data center construction foxcarolina.com
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Decision · Spartanburg County (county)
Central legal issue is whether Valara project is classified as a major or minor development, which determines if approval requires public hearings. southcarolinapublicradio.org
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Decision · Spartanburg County (county)
Spartanburg County Council expected to hold third and final vote on one year data center moratorium next week. foxcarolina.com
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Decision · Spartanburg County (county)
Residents filed lawsuit asking court to declare Spartanburg County comply with its own land development ordinance and require Valara Holdings to obtain major land development permit. yahoo.com
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Decision · Spartanburg County (county)
Hearing held in Spartanburg County Seventh Judicial Circuit Court to address lawsuit against Valara data center project on South Pine Street. yahoo.com
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Statement · Humans First
Data Center Revolt bus tour protesting data center development stopped in Spartanburg as sixth stop across 35 stops nationwide. FOX Carolina News local outlet
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Statement · Thomas Beach, State Representative (House District 10)
State Rep. Thomas Beach said bill by Rep. April Cromer and co sponsored by Rep. Lee Hewitt would require data centers to pay for infrastructure including electricity and water. FOX Carolina News local outlet
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Figure · Yahoo
3,000,000,000 USD: Valara data center project is nearly $3 billion. Yahoo national outlet
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Figure · South Carolina Public Radio
3,000,000,000 dollars: Valara data center project estimated cost is 3 billion dollars. South Carolina Public Radio local outlet
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Entry
Higher water demand figures were provided to Spartanburg Water on February 11, 2026, as part of the project's Large Water Meter Questionnaire [18]
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Entry
NorthMark's Valara Data Center revised water use to 1.2 million gallons per day average, up to 1.6 million maximum, up from original 459,000 gallons per day [18]
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Figure · Post and Courier
157 tons per year: Facility projected to emit 35.88 pounds per hour of fine particulate matter 2.5 micrometers or smaller, or 157 tons per year if running continuously Post and Courier national outlet
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Figure · Post and Courier
250 tons: Permit limits nitrous oxide to 250 tons per 12 month period Post and Courier national outlet
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Figure · Post and Courier
250 tons: Permit limits volatile organic compounds to 250 tons per rolling 12 month period Post and Courier national outlet
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Figure · Post and Courier
48 MW: Facility previously permitted for 48 megawatts, permit allows new turbines to generate additional 408 megawatts for total of 457 megawatts Post and Courier national outlet
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Figure · Post and Courier
25 tons: Permit limits hazardous air pollutants to 25 tons total, with each pollutant not exceeding 10 tons Post and Courier national outlet
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Decision · Spartanburg County (county)
Data centers of 65 megawatts or less can still build in Spartanburg County over the next year if located in established industrial parks or on former industrial sites, and cannot generate their own electricity except for emergency backup foxcarolina.com
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Decision · Spartanburg County (county)
The moratorium exempts data centers that have already received county approval, including the Valara data center currently under construction foxcarolina.com
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Decision · Spartanburg County (county)
Spartanburg County Council voted 5-1 to approve a one year freeze on new data centers larger than 65 megawatts foxcarolina.com
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On the timeline: a stage change; an entry that reports an act on the day the source or its own sentence gives; and a decision, a published scorecard event on a row at or under the record's county, that reports an act. Under the months: a statement that names this record, a figure another source gave about it, matched by place and developer, an entry dated only by the day its source was published, and an entry or a decision that describes rather than reports an act. Each is on the record in its own right and keeps its own link.
For researchers
- Slug
- northmark-spartanburg-county-data-center-sc
- Status value
- rumored
- Events on the timeline
- 8
- Under the months
- 60
- Stage changes
- 1
- Decisions
- 28
- Statements
- 12
- Figures
- 13
- Entries and decisions under the months
- 35