Florence pastor joins environmental justice panel on data centers, water and wetlands
A Florence pastor joined an environmental justice panel in Augusta, Georgia, to discuss concerns about data center expansion. The forum addressed the potential impact of data centers on electricity costs, water resources, and wetlands, as well as public involvement in development decisions. Discussions also included state-level regulatory decisions, such as those made by the Georgia Public Service Commission.
The League of Women Voters CSRA Environmental Justice Task Force hosted a community forum titled “Watts, Water, Wetlands: Who Pays the Cost?” on August 8 at Williams Memorial CME Church in Augusta, Georgia. The event brought together environmental advocates and community leaders, including Florence pastor and environmental justice advocate Rev. Leo Woodberry, to discuss the growing concerns surrounding data center development.
Panelists addressed the potential impact of data centers on electricity costs, water systems, and environmentally sensitive areas like wetlands. Discussions also focused on the level of public involvement in decisions related to large-scale development projects. Rev. Woodberry, who is also the executive director of New Alpha Community Development Corporation and former interim chair of the Sierra Club South Carolina Chapter, was joined by State Sen. Harold Jones, Tonya Bonitatibus of Savannah Riverkeeper, and Ayesha Abid of Georgia Interfaith Power & Light.
The forum highlighted how local environmental and energy concerns are often intertwined with regulatory decisions made at the state level, specifically mentioning the Georgia Public Service Commission. Organizers emphasized the importance of public engagement and education regarding energy and water policy issues.
The free event aimed to provide residents from both Georgia and South Carolina an opportunity to learn from and interact with advocates and leaders working on these critical environmental and energy topics.