Reader asks questions, offers observations about proposed data center ahead of city of Statesboro's Tuesday zoning hearing

Ahead of the Statesboro City Council's zoning hearing for a proposed data center, resident Kenneth Johnson submitted a series of questions and observations regarding the project's potential impact. Johnson noted that Statesboro has already adopted a restrictive data center ordinance, prohibiting hyperscale facilities within city limits and capping edge data centers at 50 acres. The ordinance also mandates closed-loop cooling, connection to municipal utilities, water management planning, noise limits, environmental protections, and economic and decommissioning reports. Johnson questioned whether the city would uphold all these requirements.

Key concerns raised by Johnson included the potential for groundwater contamination if cooling systems use hazardous chemicals and leak, the accuracy of water consumption estimates (currently stated as about 1,000 gallons per day, equivalent to 6-7 homes), and the significant electricity demand of the proposed 50-100+ MW facility, which could draw as much power as 45,000 to 90,000 homes. He asked who would fund necessary electrical grid upgrades and how these costs would affect Statesboro residents.

Johnson also outlined potential benefits, such as a larger property-tax base, temporary construction employment, some permanent high-skilled jobs, utility revenue, infrastructure improvements, and technology development opportunities through partnership with Georgia Southern University. However, he also expressed concern about the city's ability to manage rapid expansion, particularly with existing development pressures on areas like Burkhalter Road and ongoing sewer service issues for current residents. The city is scheduled to hold a zoning hearing for the data center.