Letter to the editor

In a letter to the editor, a Brantley County, Georgia, citizen challenges Ronald Ham's insistence that a proposed data center is the only viable option for a parcel of land. The author disputes Ham's claim of limited options, noting the land was still for sale as of March 2026 and proposing that Brantley County itself could purchase the property to develop a second industrial park, highlighting its proximity to the Brunswick Port Authority and Interstate 95 as advantages. The letter reveals conflicting selling prices for the land, with the head lawyer for Brantley County Development Partners, LLC quoting $14 million (including an EPD permit) while Mr. Ham reportedly stated $25 million. The author raises significant environmental and community concerns regarding the proposed data center. They point out that large data centers often rely on natural gas generators for electricity, leading to air pollution from nitrogen oxides that can harm respiratory systems and linger in nearby communities. Noise pollution, described as a "constant hum," is also cited as a detrimental factor. Furthermore, the author questions the data center's water usage, noting that the proposed Waynesville and Atkinson location is an aquifer recharge area, and states the cooling system described is not a fully closed loop. The letter also suggests Mr. Ham may have broader plans for multiple data centers in the county. The author advocates for the county to acquire the land, allowing citizens to decide its use and potentially securing grants to develop an industrial park that could offer more employment than a data center, while also leveraging the land's value for the county's benefit before any quick decisions on data center ordinances or land use changes are finalized.