Americus City Council hears citizen concern over data center ordinance
Americus residents voiced concerns at a City Council meeting regarding a proposed data center ordinance and Liberty's data center plans. Citizens raised issues about water usage, power grid strain, and waste heat, with one resident requesting a 90-day moratorium to ensure a thorough ordinance is developed. The proposed ordinance, which includes noise restrictions, is set to go before the Planning and Zoning Commission.
The Americus City Council meeting on July 23 saw significant citizen attendance and concern over a proposed data center ordinance and plans by a company identified as Liberty for a data center in the Frank Meyers Industrial Park.
Americus resident Crystal Waters expressed alarm about the project, citing potential issues with water usage, stress on the power grid, and waste heat. She also highlighted the difficulty in obtaining information about the proposal, leading her to distribute flyers to inform the community. Liberty's own flyers attempted to address some concerns, claiming water use would be minimal after initial filling and that Georgia Power confirmed the project would cover all infrastructure costs, not burdening residents.
Kirk Lyman-Barner, Founder of Client First Insurance Solutions, requested a 90-day moratorium on the project during the public comments section of the meeting. He argued that more time was needed to craft a robust ordinance, urging for expert input and greater transparency regarding the approval process. City Attorney Tommy Coleman provided an update on the proposed ordinance, which includes a 55-decibel sound limit at the property line for data centers and must be reviewed by the Planning and Zoning Commission before a Council vote. Council Member Kris Bowden inquired about implementing restrictions on closed-loop cooling systems and water quality, though Coleman noted limitations on zoning's ability to prohibit a legal enterprise or duplicate existing EPA regulations.