Sen. Warnock calls for statewide data center moratorium after regulators approved massive OpenAI facility

U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock has urged Georgia to implement a statewide moratorium on data center development, advocating for safeguards to protect local communities. This call follows a visit to Effingham County, the proposed site of a 3.2 gigawatt OpenAI data center, which recently received regulatory approval from the Georgia Public Service Commission.

The PSC's approval paves the way for a $20 billion investment by OpenAI, with Georgia Power stating the AI company will cover all necessary infrastructure costs and allow the utility to reduce the facility's electricity use during peak grid demand. However, Senator Warnock criticized the decision-making process for Project Camellia, asserting that residents were excluded and raising concerns about potential rate increases, as well as light and noise pollution.

Warnock, who met with local residents, including one living directly across from the proposed site, highlighted a pattern of data center developers failing to partner with communities nationwide. He stressed the "unacceptable lack of transparency" in Effingham County and other areas, leading to his demand for a moratorium. He proposes that this moratorium could be lifted for projects demonstrating no increases in water or electric bills, no "sweetheart tax giveaways," no NDAs, and clear assurances against additional air, water, noise, and light pollution.

The Senator has also previously engaged with the Environmental Protection Agency, requesting federal guidance to help communities protect their water supplies amidst data center construction. Georgia currently ranks as the sixth-largest data center hub in the U.S., hosting approximately 230 facilities.