Candidates for Georgia governor offer competing visions on data centers, Medicaid expansion at business luncheon
Georgia's gubernatorial candidates, Keisha Lance Bottoms and Rick Jackson, presented competing visions on data center development at a business luncheon. Bottoms proposed a temporary pause on data center construction to gather more information, citing environmental concerns and utility costs. Jackson, conversely, expressed support for data centers, emphasizing local control and potential property tax benefits for rural communities.
At a Georgia Chamber of Commerce luncheon in Athens, gubernatorial candidates Keisha Lance Bottoms, a Democrat, and Republican Rick Jackson, presented their platforms to over 1,000 business leaders. A key point of contention was the future of data center development in Georgia, a state that has seen numerous large data center proposals and local opposition.
Bottoms, former Atlanta mayor, advocated for a temporary pause on data center construction if elected. She cited concerns about environmental impact and rising utility bills, stating the need for more factual information before making permanent decisions. However, she also acknowledged that some rural communities benefit financially from data centers.
Jackson, who has investments in a Texas data center, supported these technology hubs, particularly for their economic potential in rural areas. He emphasized that each community should have the autonomy to decide on data center projects, suggesting that data centers could eliminate property taxes in some counties. The candidates also diverged on Medicaid expansion, with Bottoms supporting full expansion under the Affordable Care Act and Jackson favoring an "intelligent Medicaid expansion" with work requirements and block grants.