Chatham County enacts 155-day moratorium on large data centers
Chatham County, Georgia, has enacted a 155-day moratorium on large-scale data center development in unincorporated areas. This decision allows the county to conduct a study on the impact of data centers on public resources like electricity and water, and to develop appropriate development conditions. The move follows similar bans in other Coastal Georgia counties and towns, and comes amidst public concerns about a large data center project in nearby Effingham County.
The Chatham County Board of Commissioners voted to implement a 155-day moratorium on large-scale data center development within unincorporated parts of the county. The ban specifically targets data centers of 10 megawatts or larger and the conversion of existing industrial spaces for data center use. This action makes Chatham the third Coastal Georgia county to enact such a prohibition, following similar measures in Savannah, Garden City, and Bloomingdale.
District 7 Commissioner Dean Kicklighter, who initially proposed a longer 12-month pause, championed the moratorium to allow the county to study the relationship between residential areas and these large commercial developments. The study will assess impacts on public health and safety, focusing on resource usage such as electricity and water. Commissioner Kicklighter noted that the moratorium, set to expire on February 16, 2027, could be extended if the necessary information is not gathered within the initial period.
District 4 Commissioner Brian Hussey supported the moratorium but also highlighted the potential for data centers to generate significant government revenue and reduce property taxes, given the county's approximately 9 million square feet of vacant warehouse space. Commissioners also indicated they might consider further regulations on smaller data centers, including micro data centers, beyond the current ban.