Douglas County Commission Denies Data Center Project Amid Public Pushback
Douglas County commissioners in Georgia voted 4-1 to deny a rezoning request for a proposed 4.4 million-square-foot data center project. The decision followed intense public opposition, with residents raising concerns about environmental damage and property values. The denial leaves the county seeking alternative funding for infrastructure repairs.
Douglas County commissioners in Georgia have rejected a substantial data center development, voting 4-1 against a rezoning request that would have allowed a 4.4 million-square-foot facility on over 700 acres near the Interstate 20 Liberty Road exit.
The decision came after a contentious public hearing where opponents voiced strong community pushback, expressing concerns about potential environmental damage and a decrease in property values. Residents used visual aids and audio clips to demonstrate the noise of data centers, with some questioning the increasing number of such facilities in the county.
Despite arguments from proponents about embracing AI technology, the project's potential to create 200-300 permanent jobs, and the future tax revenue benefits, the commission sided with the opposition. District 4 County Commissioner Mark Alcarez, whose district included the proposed site, ultimately voted against the rezoning, though he acknowledged the county's severe budget constraints and the need for revenue to fund infrastructure repairs without raising property taxes.