SE Georgia leaders discuss data centers as community concerns rise

Southeast Georgia leaders are grappling with the impending arrival of data centers, an industry that is already sparking policy debates despite not having fully established a presence in the region. Georgia is a growing hub for these facilities, attracted by significant tax breaks, but state lawmakers failed to pass new state-level regulations this year, leaving local communities to devise their own strategies. Several counties in southeast Georgia, including Bryan, Bulloch, Effingham, and Liberty, are preparing. Bulloch County Commission Chairman David Bennett highlighted the inevitability of data center interest due to Savannah's busy port. Bulloch County proactively enacted a 90-day moratorium in February to study the industry and draft new zoning regulations, aiming to protect agricultural land and mandate infrastructure standards like closed-loop cooling systems. A public hearing is scheduled for May 5. Meanwhile, Bryan County currently prohibits data centers, and Liberty County previously received an inquiry for Riceboro that did not progress due to water restrictions. Effingham County's Industrial Development Authority is fielding inquiries but is not actively recruiting data centers, though the County Manager, Tim Callanan, emphasized the need for water and sewer agreements with conservation measures. Community opposition is strong across the region, with residents sharing concerns at a Savannah town hall and groups like Coastal Communities United and Georgia Conservation Voters highlighting environmental issues, water and electricity consumption, noise, heat, and lack of transparency. Peter Hubbard from the Georgia Public Service Commission discussed potential loopholes in 15-year minimum contracts for high-load data centers, which are designed to protect taxpayers from stranded costs. Critics argue that data centers take more from communities than they provide, urging leaders to prioritize citizen input and environmental protection.