Laurens County residents oppose possible data center, officials say no plans in place
Laurens County residents are voicing strong opposition to a potential data center project during a county commission meeting, citing environmental concerns, particularly regarding water usage. However, county officials clarify that these concerns stem from a misunderstanding about a denied grant application that merely listed a data center as a potential future use, and no specific plans are currently in place. While the chairman couldn't rule out future conversations, he emphasized no current discussions about a data center have occurred.
Residents in Laurens County, Georgia, expressed significant opposition to a possible data center during a recent County Commission meeting. Multiple residents utilized the public comment session to voice their concerns, with statements like "We don't ever want a data center here. It destroys communities" and "We're not getting any more water on this earth, so we don't need a data center."
The catalyst for this public outcry appears to be a misunderstanding related to a denied grant application. Brad Manning, Executive Director of the Heart of Georgia Altamaha Regional Commission, clarified that an application submitted earlier this year for a brownfields assessment of the old Mohawk building had listed a data center as merely one of several "potential uses." He stressed that no specific industry or business was tied to the application, which was solely for assessing environmental concerns at the site.
Laurens County Commission Chairman Jimmy Rogers sought to reassure residents, stating that the commission has not had "any inkling or even a conversation about a data center." While acknowledging that he could not definitively rule out future discussions if approached by a developer, Rogers reiterated that no active plans or discussions regarding a data center are currently underway, despite the county's ongoing pursuit of economic development opportunities.