Citizens sue to stop data center project in Coweta County

Residents in Coweta County, Georgia, have initiated a lawsuit to halt Project Sail, a proposed $17 billion data center development. The project, which involves nine buildings and two substations on an 800-acre rural site, received rezoning approval from the Coweta County Board of Commissioners last month. Developers, including Atlas Development and Prologis, highlighted the site's proximity to Georgia Power resources and the potential for tax revenue, while stating that only 20% of the land would be developed. The lawsuit, filed by individual citizens and supported by the 8,000-member group Citizens for Rural Coweta, contends that the county's approval constituted an "abuse of its policies and zoning powers" and violated state constitutional due process rights. Residents like Melanie Tomlinson argued the project contradicts the county's comprehensive plan and impacts over 1,200 nearby homes. The legal action further alleges that the county disregarded procedural rules and ordinances, specifically regarding rezoning application changes without a new Development of Regional Impact study. Concerns about the immense power and water requirements for hyperscale data centers in a county with existing water scarcity issues were also raised. The plaintiffs are seeking a judicial declaration to void the April zoning decision and prohibit construction, asserting that the development clashes with the area's rural character and that promised economic benefits are overstated. Atlas Development, named in the suit, did not comment, and the county government declined to discuss pending litigation.