Bulloch County extends moratorium, discusses full ban on data centers

The Bulloch County Board of Commissioners in Georgia has taken significant steps to restrict data center development within its unincorporated areas, extending an existing moratorium and initiating plans for a permanent ban. On Tuesday, the commissioners unanimously approved a resolution that imposes a second moratorium on new data center proposals, effective until December 31, 2026. This follows an initial 90-day pause enacted in February. During a public hearing, residents shared mixed views, with some expressing strong opposition to data centers near their homes due to environmental concerns, while others saw potential for tax revenue balanced with environmental considerations. Commissioner Ray Davis specifically cited concerns about power usage, water consumption, and the opportunity cost of potential tax revenue. Despite a prior social media post from May 1 indicating staff were preparing an ordinance to regulate data centers, Chairman David Bennett clarified that there had been no actual applications or inquiries from data center developers. Following discussions, the board unanimously voted to direct staff to draft a zoning amendment that would prohibit data centers entirely in the unincorporated parts of Bulloch County. County attorney Jeff Akins estimated this process would take two to three months to move through commissions and committees before returning to the board for final approval.