Savannah leaders push back on data centers amid environmental and cost concerns

Savannah, GA leaders and residents recently held a town hall at the Otis S. Johnson Cultural Arts Center to discuss the contentious topic of data center development in the "Hostess City." Mayor Van Johnson emphatically stated his opposition, declaring, "We ain’t doing data centers," citing concerns that data centers often fail to deliver promised benefits and may impose hidden costs. The resistance stems from significant environmental and financial concerns. The Environmental and Energy Study Institute noted that a single data center can consume as much water as an entire county, while a Congress.gov report predicts U.S. data center electricity consumption could triple by 2028, potentially accounting for 12% of all U.S. electricity use. Additionally, the potential use of "forever chemicals" (PFAS) in cooling systems was raised as a serious environmental worry. Peter Hubbard, a Democratic member of the Georgia Public Service Commission, emphasized that the core issue is not the facilities themselves but a lack of financial accountability from multi-billion dollar companies. Hubbard criticized the Georgia General Assembly for failing to implement sufficient regulations regarding data centers before adjourning, leaving crucial decisions to the Public Service Commission and heightening public concern. While some areas in Chatham County, such as Port Wentworth, have already approved amendments for data centers, Savannah's leadership remains unconvinced about their local benefits.