'We've been marked expendable' | Twiggs County residents appeal data center fight as health concerns mount

A legal dispute over a multi-billion dollar data center project in Twiggs County, Georgia, is proceeding to an appeal after a judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by local residents. The project, proposed by Eagle Rock Partners near Dry Branch, involves a massive data center campus on nearly 300 acres, with a potential taxable value of $2 billion. Residents, led by Nancy and Paul Lubeck, contend that Twiggs County commissioners disregarded overwhelming public opposition when approving the rezoning in August. Their lawsuit alleged that the county bypassed required regional impact reviews and failed to adequately assess the project's effects on local water resources, electricity infrastructure, and traffic. Despite the lawsuit's dismissal in February, the Lubecks and their attorney have filed an appeal, expected to be resolved within two to three months. Opposition is intensifying due to emerging health concerns, with Nancy Lubeck citing a $20 million settlement involving Amazon in Oregon over alleged nitrate contamination from data centers. Residents worry about their private wells, especially during a drought, and potential heat island effects from the facility. The Georgia Legislature recently concluded its session without passing any statewide data center regulations, even amid increasing opposition across the state. The Lubecks express a loss of trust in local government, warning incumbent commissioners, who are up for re-election in 2028, that voters will remember their stance on the project.