Statesboro residents protest proposed data center rezoning
Residents in Statesboro, Georgia are actively protesting a proposed data center development after the Statesboro Planning Commission voted 5-1 to rezone 26.5 acres of previously residential land for the project. The plan now moves to the City Council for final approval, with protestors citing concerns about water usage, noise, air pollution, and wildlife protection.
Statesboro, Georgia residents are actively protesting a proposed 26.5-acre data center development on Burkhalter Road, which would require rezoning land that was previously designated for residential use. The opposition intensified after the Statesboro Planning Commission voted 5-1 on Tuesday to recommend the rezoning, moving the proposal forward to the City Council for final approval.
Protesters gathered outside City Hall on Saturday morning, holding signs and chanting slogans like "Data centers no, our water has to flow." Their primary concerns revolve around potential environmental impacts, including excessive water usage, noise and air pollution, and threats to wildlife. Representatives from 4-AM Development, the company proposing the data center, have stated that skilled engineers have worked to offset environmental impacts.
Brooke Jarrett, a Statesboro native who now lives in Effingham County where another data center project faces similar backlash, emphasized the importance of community engagement. She stated that "we're all neighbors and whatever happens upstream happens to all of us," highlighting the interconnectedness of local issues.