Dear Commissioner Lynch,

My name is Dennis Hayes. My family has lived in the Spartanburg County area for over 280 years. I live off South Pine Street between Spartanburg and Pacolet, with my wife, Cathy McBride Hayes. We are both graduates of Spartanburg High School, class years 1968 and 1970. Over the course of our lives, Cathy and I have lived in different locations within Spartanburg County as well as in various parts of the United States, giving us both a deep local connection and a broader national perspective.

Over the past several months, we have observed that many residents of Spartanburg County are expressing significant concern about the construction and operation of large industrial facilities, particularly data centers. I understand these concerns, and I believe they deserve thoughtful and transparent consideration.
When I completed my studies at Georgia Tech, my first job was at a data center in Atlanta, Georgia, where I learned firsthand about mainframe computer operations and data communications. I later founded and grew Hayes Microcomputer Products, the company that developed the Hayes Smartmodem and the Hayes standard AT command set. That company grew to more than $250 million in annual revenue, employed over 1,500 people, and conducted business in 45 countries around the world. My career has been directly connected to the growth of data communications and the infrastructure that supports it.

Today, I serve as Chairman and CEO of two locally founded nonprofit organizations. SpartansFirst is a community-oriented nonprofit originally established to support law enforcement and first responders. It has since expanded its mission to include innovation and entrepreneurship initiatives, the deployment of technology products that improve accessibility for the visually impaired, and the promotion and responsible adoption of artificial intelligence practices among startup and technology ventures. I also serve as Chairman of the American Technology Venture Lab, an objective-based mentoring and educational program for early-stage, founder-led science and technology ventures with the potential to generate significant revenues within their first decade of growth. Through these roles, I remain deeply engaged in the intersection of technology, economic development, and community responsibility.

Based on this background and experience, I am writing to express my conditional support for the location and operation of data centers in Spartanburg County. I believe data centers can be a positive addition to our local economy if they are developed, constructed, operated, and eventually decommissioned using clearly defined best practices, with transparency and accountability at every stage.
My support is conditioned on the County Council addressing several key issues in a clear and enforceable manner.

First, electrical power usage must be handled responsibly and equitably. The cost of new electrical infrastructure required to serve a large data center should not be subsidized by residential customers or small businesses in Spartanburg County. Large industrial users should bear the full cost of the infrastructure required to support their development at the time it is commissioned. Additionally, any on-site power generation—whether for backup or routine operation—must be designed and monitored to prevent air pollution, objectionable odors, excessive noise, or disruptive lighting. Facility siting should ensure sufficient distance from residential neighborhoods, schools, hospitals, and other sensitive locations so that operations never create a nuisance or public health concern.

Second, water usage must be efficient, defined, monitored, and publicly reported. Data centers that use water for cooling must clearly disclose their projected usage and demonstrate that it will not strain local water resources. Ongoing reporting should confirm compliance with approved usage levels. The County should also require full disclosure regarding water treatment chemicals used for corrosion control and other operational needs. Any discharge must be handled and processed in a manner that protects groundwater and surrounding properties from contamination.

Third, emergency preparedness and public safety coordination must be transparent. The County should require clear disclosure of how fire and rescue services would respond in the event of an incident. This includes understanding what materials are present on site, what fumes or byproducts might be generated in the event of a fire, and how internal suppression systems are designed to contain such risks. The interaction between facility operators and emergency services should be well defined before approval is granted.

Fourth, transparency from the earliest stages of review is essential and should continue throughout the life of the facility. Once a project is brought before County Council for initial consideration, relevant information should be made publicly available so that citizens can evaluate whether reasonable best practices are being followed. This includes clear explanations of proximity to existing housing, schools, hospitals, and other sensitive facilities; anticipated noise levels; lighting plans; high-voltage transmission routing; water usage projections; and any other characteristics that could affect nearby residents.

As part of this transparency requirement, the County should mandate regular operational reporting. In particular, when on-site backup or routine generation systems are in use, sound level testing should be conducted at the perimeter of the facility property on at least a quarterly or semiannual basis. These measurements should be taken during actual generator operation and compared with established background noise levels from other ambient sources at the same boundary locations. The results should be documented, retained, and reported publicly along with other operational data so that residents can clearly understand whether the facility remains within approved parameters. Ongoing reporting of water usage, discharge practices, emissions controls, and noise levels should be consolidated into a publicly accessible format to ensure meaningful transparency and accountability.

Fifth, the County should establish enforceable accountability standards covering the full lifecycle of the project—design, construction, operation, and eventual decommissioning. Development should minimize community disruption during construction. Operations must remain within approved parameters. When a facility reaches the end of its useful life, it should be decommissioned in a way that leaves the site suitable for future productive use. Failure to comply with approved conditions should include a defined opportunity to cure, followed by meaningful financial penalties for continued noncompliance.

Many residents who support continued economic development believe data centers can be beneficial when developed responsibly. They contribute to the tax base. While they do not create large numbers of permanent jobs, they also do not require significant population growth, which helps preserve community character. Their proximity to advanced manufacturing and other industrial users can reduce data latency, enhance operational efficiency, and attract additional technology-oriented investment to the region.
Cathy and I are confident about the future of Spartanburg County. We believe that the recommended actions outlined in this letter—clear standards, transparent reporting, enforceable accountability, and thoughtful siting—would address many of the concerns and fears expressed by members of our community. Data centers are complex facilities, and it is understandable that questions arise when projects of this scale are proposed. By requiring openness, measurable performance standards, and consistent public reporting, the County can help ensure that residents are fully informed and that their legitimate concerns are thoughtfully addressed.

We believe data centers can be part of Spartanburg County’s future if they are implemented correctly. We respectfully ask the County Council to require best practices, ensure full transparency, and enforce accountability so that these facilities become responsible corporate citizens contributing to the long-term prosperity of Spartanburg County and the surrounding region.
Thank you for your thoughtful consideration of these concerns and for your continued service to our community.

Respectfully Yours,

Dennis C. Hayes
Chairman & CEO
SpartansFirst
DBA of Spartanburg Supports Law Enforcement and First Responders Inc.

A South Carolina Nonprofit Corporation
An IRS Tax-Exempt 501(c)(3) Organization