Georgia data centers use more than power and land. They need warehouse space.
Data centers in metro Atlanta, Georgia, are increasingly consuming vast amounts of warehouse space, in addition to their demands for power, land, and water. From 2022 to 2025, companies tied to the data center industry leased over 9 million square feet of industrial space in the region. This trend highlights both the economic benefits of filling vacant buildings and the ongoing political and public debates surrounding data center development.
The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence and the data center industry is significantly influencing Georgia's landscape, impacting politics, technology, and critical discussions on energy, water consumption, and land use. A less-recognized consequence of this boom is the substantial demand for warehouse space across the state.
From 2022 to 2025, companies within the data center ecosystem leased over 9 million square feet of industrial floor space in metro Atlanta, an area equivalent to six Lenox Square malls, according to real estate services firm Cushman & Wakefield.
While data centers have become a contentious political issue and are often unpopular with the public due to their resource demands, advocates point to economic benefits such as tax revenue and high-paying jobs. Furthermore, the industry's need for warehouse facilities has helped to fill empty industrial buildings and has softened the impact of a broader slump in the warehousing sector.