Metro Atlanta data center didn’t have permits to start construction, but did anyway
A data center project in Newton County, Georgia, involving Voltagrid and Serverfarm, was ordered by the state's Environmental Protection Division to halt construction immediately. The companies reportedly began building a data center and its adjacent power plant without the necessary permits, drawing criticism from environmental groups concerned about air pollution. The companies have until July 17 to explain their actions.
The Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) has issued a stop-work order against a data center project in Newton County, Georgia, citing violations of state law for unpermitted construction. Channel 2's Michael Doudna reported that developers Voltagrid and Serverfarm commenced building a data center and an associated power plant without the required state permits. This action has drawn strong opposition from local environmental groups, including Sustainable Newton, whose president Maurice Carter, criticized the companies for a "blatant disregard of the rules."
The project, described as the first of its kind in Georgia, proposes constructing 33 natural gas engines and 37 diesel emergency generators to power the data center, raising concerns among opponents about potential air pollution from "cancer-causing chemicals." Carter emphasized the need for such projects to adhere to legal processes and safety standards, particularly as the permit application for the power plant was still under review when construction began. The EPD's violation notices were issued last week after receiving a tip. Voltagrid and Serverfarm have been given until July 17 to provide an explanation for starting construction without permits and to clarify the timeline of their construction activities. The EPD will then determine potential penalties.