Rockdale County extends moratorium regarding new data center projects

Rockdale County, Georgia, has voted to extend its moratorium on new data center and battery energy storage system developments until September 8th. The decision by Rockdale County officials aims to provide additional time for a comprehensive review of existing policies, zoning considerations, infrastructure requirements, and potential impacts on the community. The move comes amidst growing contention in metro Atlanta and across Georgia, where residents have voiced concerns regarding the rapid expansion of large-scale data center projects. Key issues highlighted include significant water consumption, with some facilities using upwards of 200 million gallons annually for cooling, and the displacement of potential residential, park, or green spaces in fast-growing areas.