Neighbors share concerns about new data center in York County

YORK COUNTY, S.C. — A data center under construction in York County has raised concerns among local residents about noise and environmental impacts.

The facility, owned by QTS, was approved for tax incentives in 2023, but neighbors say they’re worried about the data center’s effects on their community, including water, lighting, and noise.

Among them is Steve Penland, who has operated a Christmas tree farm nearby for 60 years.

“If there’s [more] water usage, how’s it going to affect the growing of our trees and our business,” Penland said during a recent York County meeting.

Chris Thompson, a concerned neighbor, questioned the approval process during the council meeting.

“We need to know how in the world you could have come to the conclusion that allowing this into our neighborhood was a good idea,” Thompson stated.

Former council member Alison Love addressed the community’s concerns and highlighted the potential benefits of the data center.

“It brings high-paying jobs,” Love said. “You know personally, they don’t have a lot of employees but the people that they lease to also have employees.”

Love said she doesn’t know what noise is created by a data center.

QTS provided the following statement:

“QTS is proud to provide the digital infrastructure critical to the future of our country and economy and investing in the future of York County with a proposed data center campus. We are committed to being a transparent partner in York County and neighboring communities.

“We design our data centers with community members in mind. This includes implementing sound barriers that will reduce disruptions and limit the noise created by the campus. Our data centers follow all appropriate guidance from each community regarding sound and light and are designed in way that helps to reduce noise, lighting and other potential operational conditions that could impact the surrounding environment and local community. We adhere to local noise ordinances during construction and our regular operations, ensuring compliance through third-party sound studies. QTS implements a variety of sound mitigation strategies, including equipment enclosures, sound barriers and strategic grading and site layout as fit for each development.

“QTS is the global leader in water-free cooling. Our data centers are built with a closed-loop cooling system that does not consume water for cooling, once operational.”

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