Marietta residents oppose data center project, question city approval process

Residents of Marietta, Georgia, are raising strong objections to a proposed 18-megawatt data center by Prime Storage, an entity owned by Prime Holdings, a private equity fund from Saratoga Springs, NY. The facility is planned for 1155 Powers Ferry Pl in the Franklin Gateway area, a community described as marginalized. Critics, including concerned citizen Larry Felton Johnson, argue that the proposal is incomplete and raises immense environmental and health concerns.

The project site, which backs up to the protected Rottenwood Creek, poses wastewater issues. Additionally, the data center's high electricity demand for cooling fans and 8-10 generators, expected to be tested monthly, is projected to cause significant noise and emissions, impacting public health. The city's own planning staff have reportedly expressed concerns regarding the lack of basic utility, noise, and wastewater details, as well as the project's non-compliance with the comprehensive plan, as the site is currently zoned for offices and commercial use, not industrial. Construction, including internal demolition, has reportedly already begun, which opponents view as a sign of bad faith from the developers.

Opposition is widespread, with residents of Marietta, Cobb County, and Georgia overwhelmingly against the project. Johnson questions why city officials are considering exempting this proposal from a July 2026 moratorium on data centers and accuse City Hall of a lack of due diligence and a rush to approve the project, urging transparency for Marietta residents.