Former Fulton commissioner Natalie Hall calls for data center transparency as county opposes tax breaks

Former Fulton County Commissioner Natalie Hall has called for greater transparency regarding data centers' demands on water, electricity, and public infrastructure in metro Atlanta's Fulton County. Hall, who previously represented District 4 and is seeking to return to the commission, stated that while she supports the technology, communities need more information on its costs before project approvals.

Hall's comments came after the Fulton County Board of Commissioners approved an August 5 resolution, sponsored by Commissioners Bridget Thorne and Bob Ellis, opposing tax abatements and local financial incentives for data center projects. The resolution also urged the Development Authority of Fulton County to decline such incentives. Hall emphasized that residents should have access to projections for water and electricity consumption, infrastructure needs, environmental impacts, anticipated jobs, and expected tax revenue, including any incentives being considered.

The debate in Fulton County is part of a broader conversation across Georgia. While Fulton County can influence incentives, zoning and land-use authority remain with its 15 cities, with Milton and Roswell already adopting moratoriums on new data centers. The Development Authority of Fulton County has approved approximately $150 million in data center tax breaks since 2020, with about half linked to a Microsoft project.

In DeKalb County, officials are considering regulations for water-use plans and energy consumption assessments following public concerns. Separately, U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez raised concerns about water issues near a Meta data center campus in the Stanton Springs area, prompting the Environmental Protection Agency to seek more information, although no formal investigation was opened. Meta has denied its operations caused the reported problems, citing an independent groundwater study.