Atlanta will consider data center task force
The Atlanta City Council is set to discuss the creation of a 23-member task force to evaluate best practices for regulating data centers, including their effects on electricity, water supply, noise, and tax revenue. This discussion comes amidst a growing number of data centers in Georgia and a lawsuit against DeKalb County over its extended moratorium on data center development. The task force is expected to provide recommendations to the City Council and Mayor within 180 days.
The Atlanta City Council is scheduled to discuss the formation of a 23-member data center task force on August 17. Sponsored by multiple councilmembers including Kelsea Bond and Jason Dozier, the task force will examine regulatory best practices for data centers, focusing on their impact on electricity, water supply, noise, and the city's tax digest.
The proposed task force is expected to hold at least six public meetings and two public hearings, aiming to submit draft recommendations within 150 days and a final report within 180 days to the City Council and Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens. This initiative arises as Georgia experiences a surge in data center development, with over 200 statewide and 39 cities or counties having enacted moratoriums since September 2025, according to the Georgia Data Center Ordinance Hub.
In related news, DeKalb County, adjacent to Atlanta, is facing a $30 million lawsuit from Shadowbox Studios. The company alleges that county officials previously indicated it could build a data center on its property, prior to the county's moratorium being extended until September 26. Meanwhile, OpenAI recently announced plans for a large data center in Effingham County, near Savannah, contracting with Georgia Power for 3.2 GW of power to be delivered in phases between 2028 and 2032, noting a minimal water impact due to a closed-loop system.
Debbie Jennings, senior policy manager with the National Taxpayers Union, commented on the economic benefits of data centers, highlighting their contribution to tax revenue and community projects. She cautioned that moratoriums not only halt development but also prevent negotiations that could secure specific benefits for taxpayers, such as property tax revenue and infrastructure upgrades.