Google revealed as end user of Appling data center

The Economic Development of Columbia County officially revealed that Google will be the exclusive end-user and operator of a new data center planned for the White Oak Park property in Appling, Georgia. This significant announcement, made via a press release in conjunction with the Columbia County Board of Commissioners, culminates years of strategic efforts by the county to attract major investments. County officials, including Board of Commissioners Chairman Doug Duncan, Columbia County Manager Scott Johnson, and Development Authority Executive Director Cheney Eldridge, recently visited the White House to express support for the "Ratepayer Protection Pledge," an initiative that encourages companies to bear the costs of data center developments to minimize taxpayer burden.

The development site, White Oak Technology Park, involved a crucial rezoning decision by the commission in May 2025 (likely a typo for a past year, given the article's 2022 publication), changing thousands of acres off Morris Calloway Road from residential agricultural to special district zoning. The Economic Development Authority (EDA) then sold these properties to Atlanta-based Trammell Crow Company for approximately $78 million, which subsequently sold the land to Kinetic Infrastructure for nearly half a billion dollars. This project, along with other proposed data center developments like Byrd Farms and Pumpkin Center, has encountered vocal opposition from local residents, particularly those living near the affected areas. While the Pumpkin Center project secured Data Center district zoning in February, the Byrd Farms request was denied.

Chairman Duncan emphasized the substantial economic benefits of the White Oak data center, citing it as one of the county's most significant investments. He stated that the increased commercial tax base would bolster funding for schools, roads, and public safety, ultimately reducing the financial strain on residential property owners.