Warnock Calls for Statewide Data Center Moratorium After OpenAI Site Visit
U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock has called for a statewide moratorium on data center construction in Georgia after visiting a proposed OpenAI site in Effingham County. Residents voiced concerns about increased utility costs, water usage, and light and noise pollution from the massive data center. Warnock emphasized the need for transparency and community protection.
U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) has proposed a statewide moratorium on all data center construction in Georgia. This call came after his visit to the proposed site of OpenAI's new 3.2-gigawatt data center in Effingham County, where he met with residents expressing serious concerns.
Community members highlighted potential negative impacts, including higher utility costs and increased water, light, and noise pollution from the large-scale development. Senator Warnock stated that the lack of transparency in Effingham County and across the nation is unacceptable, advocating for a pause in development until specific conditions for lifting the moratorium are met.
Earlier this year, Senator Warnock had sent a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency, urging them to provide local communities with essential tools, resources, best practices, and protections as they engage with multi-billion-dollar data center corporations. His letter specifically addressed worries about data centers straining community water supplies, particularly given Georgia's ongoing historic drought.