Athens adopts temporary data center moratorium
Athens City Council unanimously adopted a one-year temporary moratorium on data centers to allow for a comprehensive study of their impacts and the development of appropriate regulations. This urgent action aims to proactively address potential data center proposals, like the one from Saadia holding LLC, before they emerge within city limits. The moratorium has an option for a one-year extension.
Athens City Council has unanimously enacted a one-year temporary moratorium on data center development within the city, with the option to extend it for an additional year. The emergency ordinance, 70-26, was passed to allow the city to conduct a comprehensive study of the land use, infrastructure, environmental, economic, and community impacts of data centers and to develop appropriate regulations.
Mayor Steve Patterson emphasized the urgency of the moratorium, citing a data center project that has already appeared in Athens County near Athens High School. He stated the need to have safeguards in place before any data center proposals emerge in the city. The ordinance specifically covers data centers for artificial intelligence and large-scale digital data storage.
The council's decision was influenced by an email from former council member Michele Papai and aligns with concerns about energy consumption and air quality raised by Athens residents during public comment. While some residents expressed worries, others, like Rob Delach, chair of the Athens Board of Zoning Appeals, noted that not all data centers are inherently bad and could offer economic benefits if regulated properly. Council members underscored the importance of each local governmental entity addressing the issue, as the moratorium should not create a false sense of security.