--- title: "Data Center: News, Information & Resource Center for Greenwood" url: https://www.heregreenwood.com/data-center-greenwood-sc/ date: 2026-11-06T05:48:19-05:00 modified: 2026-11-06T05:48:19-05:00 author: "" site: "HERE Greenwood" attribution: "HERE Greenwood" --- # Data Center: News, Information & Resource Center for Greenwood > Data centers near Greenwood, SC: who decides — zoning, city council, the S.C. Public Service Commission — plus news and official links from HERE Greenwood. *Source: [HERE Greenwood](https://www.heregreenwood.com/data-center-greenwood-sc/) — November 6, 2026 by * [Home](https://www.heregreenwood.com/)›[Politics](https://www.heregreenwood.com/politics-greenwood-sc/)›Data Center Resource CenterGreenwood SC Politics & Government · Politics of Data # Data Center: News, Information & Resource Center for Greenwood Who decides where data centers go near Greenwood — **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 Greenwood DATA CENTER: NEWS, INFORMATION & RESOURCE CENTER FOR GREENWOOD HERE Greenwood has been following data-center decisions that reach Greenwood — the stories are below, along with every official body that would have a say. A data center in or near Greenwood would first need local land-use approval through City of Greenwood, and Greenwood 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](https://www.energy.gov/articles/doe-releases-new-report-evaluating-increase-electricity-demand-data-centers) ### What’s on file near Greenwood - **On file so far**No local data-center campus vote is on file for Greenwood yet; here is HERE Greenwood's reporting so far. ### HERE Greenwood data center coverage - ●From HERE GreenwoodOct 23, 2026 · SC #### Greenwood Lawmakers Draft Statewide Rules for Data Centers GREENWOOD, S.C. — Two Greenwood County members of the S.C. House are writing a bill that would set statewide ground rules for data centers, from how… ### Who decides: zoning, councils, utility regulators & permits #### Zoning & Planning - [**City of Greenwood**City council and planning commission: rezonings, site plans, and development agreements→](https://www.cityofgreenwoodsc.com/) #### County - [**Greenwood County Council**County land use outside city limits and fee-in-lieu-of-tax (FILOT) incentive agreements for large projects→](https://www.greenwoodcounty-sc.gov/county-council) #### State Utility Regulator - [**Public Service Commission of South Carolina**State utility regulator; reviews rates and large-customer power contracts for the utilities it oversees→](https://psc.sc.gov/) - [**South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff**Represents the public interest in utility cases before the Public Service Commission→](https://ors.sc.gov/) #### Environmental, Water & Air Permits - [**South Carolina Department of Environmental Services**Issues air, water, and wastewater permits for large facilities→](https://des.sc.gov/) ### From across the HERE network - ●From HERE ColumbiaOct 27, 2026 · SC #### Data Center Rules Set to Headline SC Legislative Session COLUMBIA, S.C. — How South Carolina handles the wave of proposed data centers is shaping up as one of the biggest fights waiting for the General… - ●From HERE ColumbiaOct 20, 2026 · SC #### Sen. Devine Plans Data Center Town Hall in Columbia Oct. 25 COLUMBIA, S.C. — State Sen. Tameika Isaac Devine wants Columbia residents to come with questions about data centers. She is hosting an educational town hall on… - ●From HERE SpartanburgOct 14, 2026 · SC #### Tyger River Crypto Mine Set to Become 50-Megawatt Data Center SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. — A former crypto mining site in Tyger River Industrial Park is being turned into a data-center campus, with a late-2027 target to… - ●From HERE SpartanburgNov 4, 2026 · SC #### Three Data Center Deals Clear Second Vote in Spartanburg SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Spartanburg County Council pushed three data center development agreements one step from final approval Tuesday, voting yes on second reading at a special… - ●From HERE ColumbiaOct 27, 2026 · SC #### Data Center Super PAC Spends Big for Graham COLUMBIA, S.C. — The statewide fight over data centers and the economic investment they promise has moved from county council chambers into the U.S. Senate race… - ●From HERE SpartanburgOct 24, 2026 · SC #### Council Backs NorthMark Data Center Deal Draft in Spartanburg SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Spartanburg County Council has taken the first of three votes on a development agreement for the $2.8 billion NorthMark data center going up… - ●From HERE SpartanburgOct 22, 2026 · SC #### Spartanburg County Council Revisits Valara Data Center Deal UPDATE, Oct. 23: Council approved the first reading of the development agreement by a 4-1 vote at the Thursday, Oct. 22, special meeting. Council members Grant… - ●From HERE SpartanburgOct 21, 2026 · SC #### Jones Road Data Center Deal Clears First Vote in Spartanburg SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Spartanburg County Council on Monday moved one data center forward and left another on hold, the latest turn in a months-long fight over… - ●From HERE SpartanburgOct 20, 2026 · SC #### Data Center Zoning Rules on Committee Agenda Today in Spartanburg SPARTANBURG, S.C. — How Spartanburg County will regulate where data centers can be built is back in front of County Council members Tuesday, when the council… HERE Greenwood · Politics of Data BriefGet the data center white paper for Greenwood A plain-language briefing on who decides, what the power contracts mean for your bill, and which communities near Greenwood are next. Leave your email and HERE Greenwood 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 Greenwood readers. Company website I am a residentLocal official or staffDeveloper or real estateUtility or energyBusiness ownerMediaOtherSend me the white paperHelp me get my message outBoth Email me the white paper and occasional HERE Greenwood updates on this issue. Unsubscribe anytime.Get the white paper / Get in touchNo spam. Industry, utility, and business inquiries go to our advertising team; everyone else joins the HERE Greenwood newsletter list. Updated weekly. Last updated Nov 6, 2026. Questions & Answers ## Data Centers Near Greenwood: FAQ ### Who approves a data center rezoning near Greenwood? Rezonings and site plans go through local land-use officials: in Greenwood that is City of Greenwood, with Greenwood 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 Greenwood 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 Greenwood? HERE Greenwood has published recent reporting on data-center decisions affecting the area, linked on this page, including: Greenwood Lawmakers Draft Statewide Rules for Data Centers. HERE City Network ## Data Center Coverage Across HERE Resource centers for other HERE cities [Aiken, SC](https://www.hereaiken.com/data-center-aiken-sc/)[Beaufort, SC](https://www.herebeaufort.com/data-center-beaufort-sc/)[Chapin, SC](https://www.herechapin.com/data-center-chapin-sc/)[Charleston, SC](https://www.herecharleston.com/data-center-charleston-sc/)[Clemson, SC](https://www.hereclemson.com/data-center-clemson-sc/)[Clinton, SC](https://www.hereclinton.com/data-center-clinton-sc/)[Columbia, SC](https://www.herecolumbia.com/data-center-columbia-sc/)[Florence, SC](https://www.hereflorence.com/data-center-florence-sc/)[Greenville, SC](https://www.heregreenville.com/data-center-greenville-sc/)[Greer, SC](https://www.heregreer.com/data-center-greer-sc/)[Hilton Head Island, SC](https://www.herehiltonhead.com/data-center-hilton-head-sc/)[Irmo, SC](https://www.hereirmo.com/data-center-irmo-sc/)[Lexington, SC](https://www.herelexington.com/data-center-lexington-sc/)[Myrtle Beach, SC](https://www.heremyrtlebeach.com/data-center-myrtle-beach-sc/)[Back to Greenwood Politics & Government →](https://www.heregreenwood.com/politics-greenwood-sc/)