TigerDC Withdraws Project Spero From Spartanburg County Consideration

By David Dykes

TigerDC announced Feb. 27, 2026, it was formally withdrawing Project Spero from consideration in Spartanburg County and will begin evaluating alternative sites for the $3 billion AI data center.

News reports said public opposition to tax breaks and infrastructure strain were factors.

TigerDC officials said the decision follows Spartanburg County Council’s adoption of a resolution on Nov. 17, 2025, approving incentives for Project Spero, first reading approval on Nov. 17, 2025, and holding a public hearing and second reading approval on Feb. 16, 2026, along with months of detailed engagement with county officials, public utilities, and community stakeholders.

The officials said they provided extensive documentation and public clarification regarding the facility’s design, including confirmation that TigerDC uses a closed-loop cooling system with negligible water impact and a self-contained power strategy designed to avoid strain on the local residential grid.

At the request of county leadership, TigerDC also said it took the unusual step of publicly launching the TigerDC brand and identifying the company well in advance of final approval, a move that is not typical in confidential economic development processes, the officials said.

They said that in addition, TigerDC formally pledged to Spartanburg County Council that Project Spero would comply with any state or federal data center regulations enacted now or in the future, including standards related to ratepayer protections, environmental safeguards, and utility oversight, without seeking exemption or special treatment.

Through that commitment, TigerDC sought to remove uncertainty and demonstrate its long-term commitment to responsible development, the officials said.

Major infrastructure investments require alignment among stakeholders, and Project Spero recognized that alignment ultimately hasn’t been achieved, the officials said.

TigerDC has operated in Spartanburg County since 2022.

TigerDC officials said Project Spero represented a significant private investment that would have generated substantial long-term tax revenue while strengthening America’s leadership in AI and advanced computing.

TigerDC planned a campus that would be built at Tyger River Industrial Park along Highway 290.

The website StopProjectSpero.com claimed Spartanburg County Council was considering a 40-year tax break that would cut the company’s property tax rate by 60 percent, from 10.5 percent to 4 percent. 

It said that at full buildout, the facility was expected to consume as much electricity as 1.5 million homes, requiring significant new power infrastructure and power generation.

TigerDC officials said they will now focus its efforts on communities that are ready to move forward with this type of infrastructure.