Columbus residents pack town hall over proposed $5B data center ‘Project Ruby’

The article reports on a town hall held in Columbus, Georgia, where residents gathered to discuss "Project Ruby," a proposed $5 billion data center planned for northeast Muscogee County. The event, hosted by the local environmental group Clean Energy Columbus, aimed to address the lack of public information surrounding the project, which residents described as a "mystery." Concerns primarily revolved around the immense power and water demands of the data center, estimated to require up to 900 megawatts, potentially straining local utilities like Flint Energies and Georgia Power, and impacting residential costs. Residents also raised issues about the existing water infrastructure, noting that while the Chattahoochee River could supply water, the necessary pipes for transport are lacking, and the city's wastewater plant hasn't been upgraded significantly since the 1960s. Clean Energy Columbus, while not entirely against data centers, advocated for a moratorium until the city establishes comprehensive standards for power use, cooling systems, water, wastewater, and tax breaks to ensure environmental protection and community benefits. Columbus City Council At-Large member Travis Chambers attended to gather information, while residents pressed for a direct public vote on Project Ruby. The city's Planning Advisory Commission is set to revisit a proposed data center zoning overlay on March 18, a crucial step before any final council decision.