Maysville residents rally against proposed data center, citing water and noise concerns
Maysville residents protested against a proposed data center, citing major concerns about the facility's extensive water consumption in an already water-stressed region and significant noise pollution impacting a nearby elementary school. Protesters criticized the lack of transparency from local officials and called for community benefit agreements and regulatory ordinances. Northern Data, the developer, stated it will not use city water for cooling.
Maysville residents gathered on Saturday, May 16, across from Maysville City Hall to protest a proposed data center development, voicing significant concerns over the project's potential impact on local resources and community well-being. Gary Miller, representing Justice for Water, emphasized the town's existing water scarcity, shouting, "We have no water for our town, so how will we have any for a data center?"
Carissa Martin, a lead organizer, distributed informational packets, highlighting research from the University of Georgia, Science for Georgia, and the Georgia Mountain Regional Commission indicating Maysville is already facing a water crisis. Protesters also expressed outrage over the proposed site's proximity to Maysville Elementary School, fearing the negative effects of noise pollution on children, and claimed school officials were unaware of the project. Martin criticized the city for a lack of transparency and for not securing a Community Benefit Agreement, which could include sound barriers, infrastructure donations for the aging water system, and power purchase agreements to protect residents' utility rates.
Officials reportedly claimed previous paperwork for the project was "lost because of a flood," and a Freedom of Information Act request yielded only a single sheet of meeting minutes without explicit mention of the data center. While residents called for regulatory ordinances with citizen input, Northern Data, the company behind the data center, has stated it will not use city water for its cooling system, aiming to alleviate one of the primary concerns.