Community Backlash to AI Data Centers Is Growing Across the U.S.
In Coweta County, Georgia, a large hyperscale data center known as Project Sail was approved despite significant community opposition and a legal challenge. Residents are concerned about the project's resource intensity and impact on groundwater. Following the project's approval, Coweta County enacted a moratorium on future data center developments.
Laura Beth and her neighbors in Coweta County, Georgia, launched the "Stop Project Sail" Facebook group, now boasting over 8,000 members, to protest a proposed 4.9 million sq. ft. hyperscale data center near her home. Residents are actively organizing petition signings, displaying yard signs, and pursuing legal action against Coweta County and the project developer, Atlas Development, citing concerns about resource consumption and potential damage to groundwater. The Coweta County Board of Commissioners ultimately approved Project Sail with a 3-2 vote, with members citing long-term financial benefits for the county, a decision that has left residents feeling frustrated.
The local backlash in Coweta County is part of a broader national trend. A Reuters poll indicated widespread disapproval of the pace of data center construction, and a national day of protest saw 142 demonstrations across 42 states. Over 300 municipalities, including Monterey Park, California, and DeKalb County, Georgia, have implemented bans or moratoriums on hyperscale data centers. Additionally, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed an executive order for a statewide moratorium, while Pennsylvania, Michigan, and South Carolina are considering similar measures.
Hyperscale data centers, particularly those powering AI, are significantly larger and more resource-intensive than previous generations, consuming vast amounts of water and electricity. A mid-sized data center can use as much water as a small town, with larger ones requiring up to 5 million gallons daily, equivalent to a city of 50,000. Data centers accounted for 4% of U.S. electricity use in 2024, projected to double by 2030, leading to increased electricity costs for residents in high-concentration areas. Concerns about water supply are particularly acute; Meta's $750 million data center in nearby Newton County, Georgia, reportedly damaged local wells and contributed to rising water prices, though Meta disputes the water impact.
In a move that some residents feel is "too little, too late," Coweta County enacted a moratorium on any future data center projects in May, shortly after Project Sail's approval. The ongoing uncertainty has left residents like Laura Beth in limbo, hesitant to invest in their homes while the future of their rural community remains under threat from further development.