Jun 25, 2026BoardMeeting
BoardSouth Carolina Department of Environmental Services Public Hearing
The public hearing centered on the Draft Air Synthetic Minor Construction Permit for the Valara Holdings High Performance Compute Center in Spartanburg. Participants voiced significant concerns regarding potential increases in air pollution, including particulate matter and formaldehyde emissions, and criticized the lack of public transparency regarding the facility's scale and expansion from 50 to 450 megawatts. Community members and legal organizations argued against the classification of the facility as a minor source, highlighted environmental justice concerns due to the proximity of residential areas, schools, and parks, and urged the department to either deny the permit or subject the project to more rigorous regulatory review.