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WCNC, YORK COUNTY, S.C. - For nearly 60 years, South Carolina families gathered at Penland Christmas Tree Farm to kick off their holiday season. A proposed data center campus next door could put that all at risk, according to the farm's owners.

Quality Technology Services (QTS), a data center provider is building a nine-building campus near Lake Wylie right behind the 95-acre tree farm.

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QTS said the $1 billion investment will generate $8 billion in economic revenue for the local area.

Steve Penland, whose family has run the farm since 1966, is not convinced the tradeoff is worth it. He is worried about the potential for environmental disruptions and the increase in heat from the center could dry out his trees and ruin his business.

"The problem is that all that heat from that will go into the atmosphere," said Penland. "How much will it dry up the available water?"

A petition to stop the construction of the center has nearly 1000 signatures. The change.org forum allows petitioners to comment.

"The negative impacts for communities - both local and regional, where data centers have been built have been well established at this point. Costs have skyrocketed for average Americans for years now and this data center will cause energy prices to climb even higher. We don't need that, and we certainly don't want that," Sara commented.

QTS sent WCNC Charlotte a statement in response to the petition.

"QTS prioritizes community values and open dialogue... We take community feedback seriously, and prioritize listening to the unique needs of the community to determine the best way in which we can contribute," a spokesperson wrote.

One of the largest concerns about data centers is the large strain on local water supplies. A standard data center can use about 300,000 gallons of water per day, the equivalent to the water needs of roughly 1,000 households.

The QTS data center is filled once daily, using about 18,000 gallons of water a day, according to the company.

As a result, the center said there will be no impact to local water supplies.

YORK, S.C. —

A chemical spill has been reported at a solar plant in South Carolina, according to officials.

Update from York County Emergency Management:

"Silfab has released a statement regarding the number of gallons released and the concentration of the chemical involved. The original number of gallons we referred to in our statement was provided by Silfab. After receiving additional information, it has now been determined the number of gallons is closer to 300 and there is a lower concentration of Potassium Hydroxide needing to be contained. Regardless of the concentration and amount, mitigation would be required and it poses no danger to the public."

The following was posted by York County Emergency Management on Tuesday:

"At approximately 9:45 a.m., there was an incident at 7149 Logistics Lane, which resulted in 1530 gallons of potassium hydroxide being released. A majority of the chemicals, 1500 gallons, were contained by Silfab’s retention pool. Emergency responders were on scene within three minutes and confirmed the incident posed no danger to the public. The remaining 30 gallons of potassium hydroxide are being mitigated by a York County hazmat team and private contractors. Please avoid the area. Emergency vehicles will remain onsite, but again there is no danger to the public."

The address listed is for Silfab Solar.

According to The Chlorine Institute, "Potassium hydroxide, commonly known as caustic potash, has the chemical formula (KOH). It is an inorganic compound produced by an electrolytic process using a potassium chloride salt and water (brine) feedstock. It is most commonly available at a range of 45 to 50% concentrated solution though other formulations and products exist. The solution is corrosive to body tissue and readily reacts with a variety of metallurgy. It is commonly shipped via pipeline, vessel, barge, rail tank car, cargo tank (truck), and other smaller containers. Potassium hydroxide has a wide variety of applications in many industries, including agricultural fertilizers, runway re-icing fluid, alkaline batteries, petroleum refining, cosmetics, soaps and detergents, and water treatment (pH adjustment)."

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The data center is being built near Lake Wylie along Campbell Road and Hand Mill Highway.

YORK COUNTY, S.C. — Residents in York County are once again voicing concerns about the QTS Data Center project near Lake Wylie, as construction continues and county leaders reaffirm their support for the development.

During a public meeting this week, community members had the opportunity to speak directly with QTS officials and learn more about the project’s potential impact. Many of the concerns raised focused on environmental effects and the facility’s energy demands.

The data center is being built near Lake Wylie along Campbell Road and Hand Mill Highway.

York County Councilman William “Bump” Roddey acknowledged residents’ concerns, but said county leaders do not believe they rise to the level of halting the project.

“All concerns are valid concerns, but are they concerns enough for us to halt this project? I don't think they've risen to that level at this point,” Roddey said.

County leaders say the project represents a significant investment in York County. Roddey said council members believe the development will help grow the county’s tax base, support the school system, and bring long-term economic benefits to the area.

However, not all neighbors are convinced.

Some residents living adjacent to the construction site have posted signs outside their homes in opposition to the project. One nearby resident, who did not want to go on camera, told WCNC Charlotte that construction noise has been waking his family as early as 5:30 a.m.

A petition to stop the data center, started by resident Stacy Armstrong, is calling on county leaders to reassess the zoning and approval process. Armstrong argues the county should look beyond economic gains and consider the long-term impact on residents and the environment. The petition has gathered about 800 signatures so far.

Energy usage has also been a key concern. Roddey said the company was required to secure approvals from energy providers, including Duke Energy, to ensure power needs could be met for year-round operations.

“They had to get authorizations [from] energy providers such as Duke to assure they would be able to provide the energy consumption they would be able to pull on a 365 operation year-round. Apparently, those were met,” Roddey said.

Environmental concerns, including tree removal and the changing character of the area, were also discussed.

“Trees give us an abundance of oxygen, and it plays into the beautification of what York County has been known for for many, many years. This is not the York County I grew up in 50 years ago. Things change. Housing development comes,” Roddey said.

Roddey added that with construction already underway, backing out of the agreement could create major financial liability for the county and potentially shift costs onto taxpayers.

For now, county leaders say the project is moving forward, but for many residents, questions remain about what the long-term impact will be.