DeKalb County Rejects Data Center Regulations, Opposition Continues
DeKalb County officials rejected proposed legislation aimed at regulating data center development, a move welcomed by some activists but leaving the county vulnerable. The decision comes as the county's data center moratorium is set to expire in September, prompting concerns about future development without adequate protections. Residents and environmental groups continue to advocate for stricter controls or an outright ban on data centers.
DeKalb County officials recently voted against new legislation designed to regulate data center development, following nearly a year of public debate and resident outcry. At a June 23 meeting, the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners unanimously rejected a text amendment, initially proposed in July, that would have imposed land use and zoning restrictions, including capping campus sizes at 1 million square feet and mandating 750-foot buffers from residential properties.
Activists, including Gina Mangham of the DeKalb Citizens Coalition, expressed relief at the legislation's defeat, arguing it was insufficient to protect the community from potential environmental damage, water resource strain, and public health concerns. Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson, who initially deferred the vote, later supported rejecting the amendment after reflecting on community feedback. Commissioner Ted Terry, however, warned that the county remains susceptible to new data center developments as a standing moratorium on such projects is slated to expire in September. He emphasized the county's lack of a clear definition for data centers leaves it vulnerable and necessitates new regulatory action to justify extending the moratorium.
The vote occurs amidst Atlanta's rapid growth as a data center hub, with other Georgia communities also voicing opposition due to environmental impacts and rising energy costs, disproportionately affecting Black households. Mangham advocates for a complete ban on data centers in DeKalb County, citing existing water system issues under a federal consent decree. The Planning Department is currently evaluating next steps, and Commissioner Terry has proposed a study on environmental and health impacts, which the Board of Commissioners has deferred for a vote on July 14.