Columbus residents want data center put to a vote. Town hall reaches 120 attendees

Data centers in Georgia have become a contentious issue, with residents in Columbus, Georgia, pushing for a vote on a proposed hyperscale data center project called "Project Ruby." A town hall organized by Clean Energy Columbus highlighted concerns about the project's energy and water usage, with representatives from Environment Georgia and Chattahoochee Riverkeeper providing facts and figures. Residents expressed concerns about the project's impact on home values, water quality, and air quality from potential diesel generators. The issue has become a political debate, with some residents and a city councilor, Travis Chambers, wanting more information and a public vote on the project. The Muscogee County Democratic Party has also added a non-binding straw poll question on the May 19 ballot about whether voters should decide on the data center project.