Warnock proposes statewide data center moratorium
Senator Raphael Warnock proposed a statewide moratorium on data center development in Georgia, advocating for stricter conditions on utility rates, pollution, and transparency for developers. This proposal comes as OpenAI plans a new data center in Effingham County, with Georgia Power securing a contract to supply power to the facility.
Senator Raphael Warnock has called for a statewide moratorium on data center construction in Georgia, delivering his proposal from the site of a planned OpenAI data center in Effingham County. The Senator emphasized that any data center projects should only proceed if developers can guarantee no increases in water or electric bills, avoid non-disclosure agreements or "sweetheart tax giveaways," and prevent air, water, noise, or light pollution.
OpenAI, known for operating ChatGPT, expressed enthusiasm for its Effingham County project, asserting it would not raise electricity rates or divert water. The company anticipates contributing hundreds of millions in state and local tax revenue, becoming the largest taxpayer in the county, and creating thousands of construction and permanent jobs.
State regulators recently approved a contract for Georgia Power to supply 3,200 megawatts to OpenAI's facility. According to Georgia Power President, Chairman, and CEO Kim Greene, OpenAI will cover its infrastructure costs, which is expected to help lower average customer electric bills. The proposal from Senator Warnock follows a local moratorium enacted in April by the Decatur County Board of Commissioners, which halted data center permits to allow for further study.