Ga. Chamber plans campaign to show benefits of data centers
The Georgia Chamber of Commerce is launching a statewide campaign to promote data centers, highlighting economic benefits while addressing public concerns about environmental impact, water, and electricity use. This initiative comes as public opposition to data centers is rising across Georgia, exemplified by a recent zoning approval for a data center in Statesboro despite local resident disapproval. The campaign aims to provide transparency and ensure responsible development amidst ongoing debate about the industry's growth.
The Georgia Chamber of Commerce is launching a statewide messaging campaign to promote the economic benefits of data centers, aiming to counter growing public opposition and address concerns regarding their environmental impact, utility bills, and community effects. The Chamber's newly formed Georgia Digital Infrastructure Alliance, which includes industry leaders, utility representatives, and policymakers, will begin briefing officials statewide in September.
This campaign comes amid rising negative sentiment towards data centers, with a University of Pennsylvania survey showing 61% of Americans oppose new data center construction in their area. In Georgia, former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, a Democratic gubernatorial nominee, has called for a pause on new data centers, while her Republican opponent Rick Jackson supports community choice in their development. Locally, the Statesboro City Council recently approved a zoning change for a 27-acre site owned by 4AM Development LLC for a new data center, despite resident disapproval.
Critics like Chris Manganiello of Chattahoochee Riverkeeper and Amy Sharma of Science for Georgia highlight concerns over water and energy consumption, pointing to significant water loss at power plants and the potential for communities to bear the costs of grid expansion. Georgia Power, for instance, opposed a bill that would have prevented them from passing on long-term costs for expanding the power grid to serve data centers, a bill that ultimately failed to pass. The Chamber, however, argues that data centers are becoming more water-efficient and contribute significantly to property tax revenue and job creation.