At the April 15, 2026, Newberry County Council meeting, County Council held a Public Hearing related to Project Altair, a proposed Economic Development project. To maintain transparency, members of County Council and staff elected to notify the public of the general project information prior to opening the public hearing. At the meeting, it was announced that this project would allow Newberry County to option the remaining acreage in Mid-Carolina Commerce Park II to a developer who intends to lease the facility to a data center tenant. If the developer’s plans are successful, the prospect would purchase the remaining acreage and construct several buildings, constituting a small- to medium-sized data center.

Santee Cooper is currently conducting a study to determine whether the electrical grid in the area can support such a facility.

Newberry County Government recognizes there are questions and is committed to providing the additional information needed to support informed decision-making by County Council and the public. To help provide that information, County Council is working to organize a Community Informational Session with subject matter experts prior to a final reading.

Newberry County Council is exploring this opportunity, and passage of the ordinance would not necessarily mean a data center would be constructed. Rather, the ordinance would allow for a due diligence process to take place. If the project does not move forward, the land would revert to Newberry County for future industrial development.

Newberry County Council will delay third reading of Ordinance 03-01-2026, which would allow the County to enter into an option and purchase agreement with Project Altair for economic development purposes. 

Newberry County Government is currently working to organize this Community Informational Session, and details will be shared with the public once a date is confirmed.