South DeKalb organizers unite residents over data center concerns
South DeKalb residents and environmental organizers held a forum in Stonecrest to discuss the health, noise, water, electricity and infrastructure impacts of data center development. DeKalb County is temporarily not accepting applications for new or expanded data centers while commissioners consider additional regulations and independent health and environmental studies.
Environmental and civic organizers Renee Cail of Citizens for a Healthy and Safe Environment and Cheryl Moore-Mathis of the Klondike Area Civic Association convened a community forum at Rockland United Methodist Church in Stonecrest. Panelists and residents raised concerns about data center noise, backup-generator pollution, water use, electricity demand, tax incentives, infrastructure costs and the limited number of permanent jobs such facilities may create.
The forum occurred as DeKalb County continues to debate how to regulate data centers. The county has a moratorium on accepting applications for new or expanded facilities while officials study potential impacts. The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners was scheduled to consider proposals requiring an independent health and environmental study before the moratorium is lifted and broadening data center definitions and classifications.