Confidentially speaking: A New AI Data Center Approaches

Remember this: When the water is high, it is high. When the water is low it is almost gone. I hope the AI isn't thirsty.

Due to the duck hunter noting he thought the duck pond was a tad dry, it got me to ruminating on water availability in the area, be it from the sky, under ground or coursing through as a natural water body. 

Of course, a new fear is unlocked or hope emerges...

Eagle Myra, LLC (Stream Data Centers) has been approved by the county to build a billion dollar data center in my county that plans to use a closed-loop cooling system which uses up to 43,050 gallons of water per day over six buildings. Like all corporations, they were given the discount treatment due to the approval coming via the Fee-in-Lieu of Taxes agreement that include special source revenue credits for covering the costs of infrastructure. 

The system this company is using is called closed-loop cooling. This closed-loop cooling system doesn't require high volumes of water extraction from local environments. My wee brain googled, what could this mean?

I feel like an owl regurgitating a damn pellet of knowledge and questions. Oh that after taste of biblical answers. This is a complex subject to traverse. 

Yet you can not find the details for this plan on the internet to read. It would appears the use of a code name and a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) with the local officials acknowledging limited public information caused concern with the citizens. Appears shady right out the gate and the company hasn't told them the location or the river that it is going to leach off of. 

I wonder what the environmental impact statement is going to read like. Zoning, environmental impact and infrastructure would have to be addressed throughout its phases to make sure it is up to code. Where or what are the bills that will monitor these conditions?

I decided as a concerned citizen on behalf of environmental stewardship, God-given right to water, water availability, and keeping tabs on the local politicians making decisions based around secrecy, it makes me ponder.

The Council held a public hearing on Ordinance #2026-01 (Project Liberty) on 2026/01/22, where community members and the Pee Dee Lynches Riverkeepers raised concerns about the river drainage and water competition. 

I googled the County Minutes. There are more to come. The date for these minutes is February 10, 2026:

"Mr. Anthony Bolner, along with his colleague Santiago Escobar representing the developer of the proposed data center within the Marion County Industrial Park. He stated that the project is still operating under confidentiality. Eagle MYRA1, LLC is backed by a long-standing American Data Center development company with more than 26 years of experience designing, building, and operating data center campuses across the United States. Data Center projects like this one represent long-term local investments with development results that are designed to be quiet safe, environmentally responsible neighbors and strong contributors to the local communities in which they operate. At its core, a data center is a clean and secure facility that supports the digital services many of us rely on every day. Unlike heavy industrial uses, data centers do not involve manufacturing chemicals or industrial discharge, and they operate with very limited daily traffic and staffing. From an environmental and infrastructure standpoint, this project has been intentionally designed to minimize impacts. This facility uses a closed-loop cooling system, meaning there is no daily water consumption for cooling and no cooling-related discharge. Water use is limited to basic domestic needs, similar to a small office building, and there is no impact to groundwater or surrounding agricultural operations. Noise impacts are also minimal. Mechanical equipment is enclosed or screened, emergency generators operate only during limited testing or outages, and the site layout incorporates setbacks and buffers to further protect nearby properties. The developer will fully fund the required electrical infrastructure and utility upgrades, ensuring that no financial burden on existing customers or taxpayers will result from this development. Economically, this project represents a significant long-term investment in Marion County. Each building is projected to contribute at least $12-14 million per year to the County’s tax base, providing meaningful, sustained support for public services while also creating permanent, well paying local jobs. Mr. Bolner stated that Eagle MYRA1, LLC is committed to being a responsible, transparent partner, one that invests in Marion County, protects its natural resources, and delivers long-term economic benefits while remaining a clean, safe, and low-impact neighbor. Councilman Floyd appointed Mr. David Owens to the Marion County Zoning and Appeals Board. Motion was made by Councilman Rogers to appoint the County Administrator, David Crotts, to the Pee Dee Regional Council of Governments Board. The motion was seconded by Councilman Foxworth and carried unanimously. Minutes, February 10, 2026, Page 6 Motion was made by Councilman Foxworth, seconded by Councilman Gilchrist, and carried unanimously, to go into executive session for a legal briefing -Watford vs Marion County/CPST (Capital Sales Tax) matter. Motion was made by Councilman Foxworth, seconded by Councilman Gilchrist, and carried unanimously, to close executive session and reopen the regular meeting. Chairman Tennie stated that no action was taken during executive session called for a legal briefing -Watford vs Marion County/CPST (Capital Sales Tax) matter. Motion was made by Councilman Gilchrist that on February 24th, a meeting will be held at 6:00 pm, and on February 26th, a meeting will be held at 9:00 am, to identify any questions that the citizens may have regarding the data center. Chairman Tennie stated that, as a Council, they came up with two (2) dates. He stated that the County is doing its best to get the information across to the citizens of Marion County about the data center. The motion was seconded by Councilman Foxworth and carried unanimously. There being no further business to discuss motion was made by Councilman Foxworth, seconded by Councilman Floyd, to adjourn the meeting at approximately: 12:53 PM."

You can always depend on the local county government to either throw you under the bus on issues, address the issues, or the odious but expected sound of crickets. They are the first line of offense to sell out the community with the promise of something greater. 

For future reference this statement says it has a low impact on natural resources as a transparent partner, yet everything is confidential? Side-eyes.

                                          Photography by  Adam Zubek-Nizol

It would appear if you have no educational meetings addressing citizen concern, an online PDF to read about the project, or other tools to address questions and concerns by the locals, it would be expected that the company would have some sort of pushback? Better to educate constituents on the process that the AI data center would be utilizing than to leave them in the dark and expect them to do a trust fall after all the shenanigans of the Government, Federal, state, and local since forever. 

Local citizens are concerned about the AI data center usage versus residential and commercial businesses due to times of drought, competition with agricultural needs, and water table dropping. We still have to deal with the damming of water Upstate since the floods. There is the statement this facility is not suppose to impact residents electric and water bills. We will see.

The burning question here is: If you come to the table with secrecy, an NDA, and claims to be a transparent partner, with no data, how do you expect anyone to greet you with open arms and great expectations? What does this mean for the natural environment and where is your data? Are you collecting impact data? You want to use the land, the river, the water, and that has occupants of Nature that can't speak for themselves. 

We, as constituents, are among those living in this ecosystem that we speak of and can be just as affected by poor water quality, system malfunctions that could pollute the areas and impact wetlands that we go hunting on for duck, deer, hog, alligator, and fish out the rivers where heavy metals are already an issue. Now we have to worry about stormwater runoff impacting water, soil, and air quality in local habitats. Yet, is is implied that this facility is low use but if not managed correctly could impact wetlands and surround communities and farmland. Farmland in itself has become problematic due to real estate agents selling large tracts for cul-de-sac and elderly farmers being preyed upon by those types of people because they see a better vision for the property that doesn't include you living on it. To the nursing home with you.

With new business types such as the AI data centers, new regulations have to be formed to address special considerations for the possible fallout from its existence. One particular legislation is SC HB 4583, which mandates closed-loop systems and required data centers to report surface and groundwater usage for projects impacting sensitive areas. 

Swinging back around to natural habitat impacts and water availability when it comes to the forest, swamp, and byways, what could be so concerning?

Drought vulnerability, ecosystem disturbance and destruction, noise and light pollution and regional context.

We live on a living plane requiring water for living things to flourish. In the face of drought, those creatures and plants can't get the nutrients that feed them and become at-risk species. Animal, plant, fair or foul thing could disappear because we elected to keep our data contained or protected in a structure that shares an environment. Data doesn't care about the outside world. It is data. If there is a considerable uptake of water then that means more fires on the landscape. There may not be enough to grow crops to feed people, or your hunting harvests. You might not be able to buy corn to bait with because its not viable in the face of water scarcity. 

Indigenous people have been screaming and fighting on this topic for years, yet here we are. Mind-boggling.

While we focus on the local struggle, what kind of impact are these centers going to have on the larger area? Now you have to plot the locations of all these data centers by a water source and while they are running simultaneously, collectively what would there impact be?

Considering ecosystem disturbances, stormwater runoff and sediment entering waterways could affect hydrology and water quality. 

Noise and light pollution is to be expected. The cooling fans and security lights could disrupt humans and animals but at this point people are afraid to go with a light source, day or night. The next county over has become so over grown with human habitation that it lights up the sky from fifty miles away and disturbs the constellations in the sky. 

Larger data centers in the state are procuring stricter mitigation plans and required to report for all the incoming data centers.

It is concerning. When you have lived a long time to watch fifty miles one way get mowed down for the sake of industry and growth, you wonder is it all worth it if it is all gone. The green turns to grey and that is sad to think about.

Upcoming Public Meetings in Marion County at the Marion County Administration Building (2523 East Highway 76)

March 26, 2026  Thursday  Regular meeting 7:00 pm

April 14, 2026  Tuesday   Regular meeting 9:00 pm

April 23, 2026  Thursday  Regular meeting 7:00 pm 

There are several bills currently moving through the SC State House to create a state-level permitting process for data centers that are currently being handled by local governance.  

The following are proposed bills:

Proposed Moratorium (H.5286)

Introduced in 3/2026, this bill would temporarily halt final approvals for new data center projects until 2028, to include rezoning and building permits to allow for more environmental impact research. 

Data Center Development Act (S.867)

This bill would establish a new office within the Department of Environmental Services (DES) to oversee siting. It would require

efficiency mandates used for closed-loop cooling systems to recycle water than draw from local sources and ratepayer protections that require data centers to pay 100 percent of their infrastructure costs or prevent residential utility bill increases. 

Data Center Responsibility Act (H.4583)

This is a strict proposal that would require facilities to be energy independent and maintaining $50 million in environmental liability insurance and generating 100% of power on-site. 

Water Usage Transparency (S.724)

This bill requires any commercial data center consuming over 3 million gallons of water /month to report its usage annually to the state. 

After watching what corporations and government has been doing, you can't trust anything, especially the intentions of others. So bring on the regulations I say. 

The world is filled with data and now we have become hoarders of that data. But why?

These are useful links to help you start your AI learning journey.

Useful Substacks

https://samueleburns.substack.com/p/solar-farms-in-marion-county-the?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=6i708h&triedRedirect=true&_src_ref=google.com

Ground Water Monitoring Network

https://des.sc.gov/programs/bureau-water/hydrology/groundwater-program/groundwater-level-monitoring-network

The Pond is Dry and other Conundrums

                                                      Photography by Yulia Gapeenko

 

Remember this: Migratory birds fly for miles. They remember and learn what to avoid. So do I.

Lately, life has been a distraction from my conservation efforts due to other people's health conditions. Today, I sat down and tried to review what the mind should be preoccupied with. 

Basically for me, being nosy and writing.

A duck hunter who previously rented land to peruse stopped me in the local store and informed me that he rented but didn't go on the property because the pond was dry. Its not even migratory fowl season and people are looking for perfection. I thought about this. How would he know if he didn't go on the property? I went on the property and took photos months ago. During the one day snow storm, I trucked back into the woods and took photos of the frozen pond and the water in the duck pond that was frozen as well. The reason for this is to make sure there was a hole in the ice on the sump pond so the gases would not build up in the water and form dire consequences. The ice thawed out in that week so it wasn't a long freeze. 

The concept for most endeavors that I do when it comes to habitat construction and maintenance is to let it take its natural course. I guess people expect me to fill nature's duck bathtub up for them? 

Maybe I should toss in some decoys?

I began to have thoughts on water economy and scarcity. It has been on my mind since I heard about the projected AI data center in my county reported by local news. Ergo, its shroud in secrecy so I expect there to be something else going on in those six buildings. 

Now I got a disillusioned duck hunter, a dry pond, a drought of some sorts, and a data center looming in the distant future. 

Here I was thinking of buying some duck eggs and hatching them. Let no good intention go to pot. 

Its not bad enough I have to see the influx of deer into my county because the county over is so overrun with humans, buildings and their activities that the deer are now trying to hide across county lines. It looks like an alien invasion at night. I feel sorry for the deer because all the hunters do is drive around day and night trying to figure out how they can capitalize on watching a herd of ruminants get jammed up in a small area of farm and woodland. The pressure on them is incredible. Yet on rolls the wheels of progress, right over us all. 

Its a struggle. I am waiting on people to complain we need a killing because the deer are pooping in their yard. I have actually heard this non-sense from a person that was trying to request a permit to snipe them off her property. Wasted meat, what a shame.

Those deer's only crime was existence and having to have a bowel movement. Can you imagine what her thoughts were on human beings. 

It is more of a pain in the posterior when you are trying to manage a location that is a breeding ground for those little 20 lb sukies the hunters with their kids indiscriminating go out an shoot because everyone needs to have an experience. They won't even allow them to have a moments piece with their progeny. Its like the feeling people must have had back in the day when they were smoking bison and stacking them high. I sound so bitter. Guess I am?

                                                 Photography by Hamim Fadillah

I am not even gonna get into the other raging disappoint in my life when it comes to agencies that fall short of grace, character, and valor to be a bunch of punk barney's running around in the woods. All they are about is the bottom line.  

The plan is to go assess the situation and figure out if I can improve it but unless the tears of God fall from the sky, I don't expect a surplus of water to fill a hole in the ground to fulfill another person's expectations.