Residents speak out voicing data center concerns

During a Brantley County Commission work session in Nahunta, fourteen residents vehemently opposed a proposal to amend the Land Use Ordinance to classify data centers as "light industrial." Citizens like Shannon Denbow argued data centers are "heavy industrial," while Nicholas Dunegan detailed dangerous chemicals and water contaminants associated with these facilities. James Duncan questioned the commission's information regarding a planned landfill on the proposed data center property, citing EPA itineraries that show it's still scheduled. Concerns about transparency were central, with Kathy Wainwright asking the chairman, Skipper Harris, about the board's commitment to open policies and citing a lack of public input since discussions began in December 2025. Satilla Riverkeeper Shannon Gregory highlighted the county's environmentally sensitive areas, including the Satilla wetlands and the Floridian Aquifer. David Hall, a Georgia House of Representatives candidate, warned that data centers could drive up electricity costs for residents, criticizing the weakened House Bill 1063 which he claims lacks strong protections compared to the opposed Senate Bill 34. Other residents, like Anna Babcock and Michaela Sanders, moved to Brantley County to avoid major development and pleaded for transparency, while Kat Montgomery of 100 Miles criticized her exclusion from the ordinance drafting process, providing a sample ordinance that included clearer definitions for closed-loop systems and disaster plans. Commissioners acknowledged the input but provided little immediate information on their formal stance.