Data centers again; Sign here, please; Vapin’ in the girls’ room; Tickets tossed

McDuffie County Commissioners have approved a crucial zoning change that will allow for the development of a billion-dollar data center near the Columbia County line in Georgia. This development paves the way for a significant investment in the region's digital infrastructure. In a related but separate action, several environmental groups have initiated a lawsuit against the Georgia Public Service Commission. The suit appeals a ruling from last year that sanctioned a substantial expansion of power infrastructure for Georgia Power. The utility contends this expansion is essential to satisfy the growing energy requirements, which are largely driven by the demands of power-intensive data centers. This legal challenge highlights ongoing concerns about the environmental and infrastructural impact of data center proliferation in the state.