Southern Company

Data Center Signal is tracking 20 clips about Southern Company data center developments across 6 states, including GA, AL, DC, LA, MS.

20Clips

6States

States

Topics

electricity95%

government90%

opposition40%

environmental30%

announcement30%

legal25%

moratorium20%

water10%

zoning10%

News ClipAlabama Political Reporter·AL

Britt talks data center accountability, defends Trump admin ratepayer pledge

U.S. Senator Katie Britt emphasized public accountability for data center developers in Alabama, advocating for a balanced approach to AI technology growth amid local controversies concerning environmental and energy costs. Her comments align with ongoing political debates in the state, including a proposed moratorium on new data center projects by gubernatorial candidate Doug Jones and a 10% electricity rate increase for data centers by TVA.

government electricity environmental moratorium opposition

9/1/2026

News ClipYubaNet·Perry, Sumter County, AL

FERC ignores statutory obligation to public, authorizes 500 miles of unnecessary pipelines

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) authorized two methane gas pipeline projects, South System Expansion 4 and Mississippi Crossing, totaling 500 miles across Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi, despite overwhelming evidence that they are unnecessary. The Southern Environmental Law Center plans to challenge the authorization on behalf of several environmental groups, citing concerns over public interest, environmental impact, and rising power bills due to data center demand.

electricity environmental opposition government legal

8/31/2026

News ClipEnergy and Policy Institute·Bessemer, Jefferson County, AL

Alabama Power promises data center protections, but its proposed rate structure redacts them

Alabama Power is under scrutiny for redacting critical terms in data center contracts, preventing public and regulatory oversight of potential customer cost shifts. This issue is being deliberated by the Alabama Public Service Commission following a new state law. Local opposition to data centers has also intensified in the state, influencing municipal elections.

electricity government legal opposition

Meta QTS

8/28/2026

News ClipEffingham Herald·Rincon, Effingham County, GA

AI Data Centers: Answers To Effingham's Questions

Georgia Tech experts held informational sessions in Rincon, Effingham County, Georgia, to address community questions about OpenAI's proposed $20 billion Project Camellia AI data center. Discussions focused on its substantial electricity and water demands, cooling systems, noise, and lighting, and how local ordinances can mitigate these impacts. Effingham County officials are considering additional local requirements and independent monitoring for the project.

electricity water environmental zoning government opposition

OpenAI

8/27/2026

News Clip6:24Bloomberg Tech·GA

AI Data Center Demand Isn’t Slowing: Southern CEO

Southern Company CEO Chris Womack discusses the growing demand for data centers due to AI, highlighting their strategy to manage this growth responsibly by ensuring data centers bear infrastructure costs. He specifically mentions a 25-year agreement with OpenAI for a planned expansion in Effingham County, Georgia, and addresses public concerns about electricity rates and environmental impact.

electricity environmental government opposition

OpenAI

8/26/2026

News ClipNow Georgia·Euharlee, Bartow County, GA

Georgia Power breaks ground on natural gas expansion at Plant Bowen despite air pollution concerns

Georgia Power is proceeding with a major natural gas expansion at its Plant Bowen in Bartow County, largely to meet growing electricity demand from data centers. This project, which includes new natural gas turbines and battery storage, has broken ground despite significant environmental concerns and ongoing legal challenges from groups like the Southern Environmental Law Center and Sierra Club. Opponents argue the expansion will worsen air quality in the Atlanta region, which is already struggling with ozone pollution.

electricity environmental legal government

8/3/2026

News ClipKnoxville News Sentinel·TN

TVA joins Trump pledge to protect consumers from data center costs

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) has joined a White House-backed "ratepayer protection pledge" aimed at shielding consumers from data center electricity costs. The pledge seeks to place the financial burden for grid upgrades and power on hyperscale and AI companies. TVA is committed to adjusting its rate structure for heavy electricity users in line with this pledge, with potential changes to be voted on by its board in August.

electricity government

Google Amazon Microsoft

7/24/2026

News ClipTMJ4 News·Washington, District of Columbia County, DC

Trump administration touts more support for reducing datacenter power costs

The Trump administration announced over 200 new signatories to its Ratepayer Protection Pledge, an initiative aimed at lowering utility costs associated with data center development. The pledge encourages tech companies to fund their own power infrastructure and grid upgrades. Major tech companies and utilities, including Google, Amazon, Meta, xAI, and Southern Company, have signed on, with 23 Governors also joining.

electricity government moratorium opposition

Google Amazon Meta xAI

7/24/2026

News Clip5:12Forbes Breaking News·Richland County, LA

Trump highlights data center construction, economic benefits at White House event

During a White House event, former President Donald Trump delivered a speech highlighting his administration's purported role in boosting data center construction. He cited examples from Georgia, Iowa, and Louisiana's Richland Parish, where data centers reportedly led to property tax elimination, frozen electricity rates, and teacher bonuses. Trump criticized the Biden administration and claimed he received insufficient credit for these economic achievements.

announcement government electricity zoning

Google

7/23/2026

News ClipAL.com·AL

Alabama governor, Southern Company join Trump data center pledge$

The Alabama governor and Southern Company have joined a data center pledge initiated by Donald Trump. This signifies a collaborative effort between the state government, a major utility company, and a national political figure related to data center development.

government

7/23/2026

News Clipcitybiz·GA

Georgia Power Adds Holder Construction CEO Beth Lowry to Board as Infrastructure Demands Surge

Georgia Power has appointed Beth Lowry, CEO of Holder Construction, to its board of directors. This move reflects the utility's preparation for increased demand from economic expansion, industrial growth, and particularly hyperscale data center development across Georgia. Lowry's expertise in large-scale construction, especially data centers, will be crucial as Georgia Power expands its infrastructure to support statewide growth.

electricity announcement

5/26/2026

News ClipNew York Post·Coweta County, GA

Georgia residents stand to lose everything as homes seized by private company in $16B data center plan to power AI

Georgia Power is using eminent domain to seize hundreds of properties in Coweta and Fayette counties for a new 35-mile transmission corridor, Project Wansley. This expansion is designed to provide approximately 80% of its new capacity to data centers. Residents are strongly opposing the seizures, claiming unfair compensation and seeking legislative intervention.

electricity opposition legal government

5/21/2026

News ClipWRDW·Carrollton, Carroll County, GA

Georgia Power breaks ground on electricity plant to serve data centers

Georgia Power has broken ground on a new 2,000-megawatt electricity plant at Plant Wansley, straddling Heard and Carroll counties, to meet the surging energy demand primarily from data centers across the state. The project, including a 500-megawatt battery storage system and a 1,500-megawatt natural gas plant, is supported by a $26.5 billion federal loan guarantee from the Department of Energy. Public concerns about data centers driving up electricity costs are addressed by Georgia Power, which claims data centers will help stabilize rates and pay for the new infrastructure.

electricity government announcement

5/1/2026

News Clip2:59Atlanta News First ·Carroll County, GA

Georgia Power building for data center builds

Georgia Power is constructing a new 2,000 MW hybrid power plant in West Georgia, bordering Carroll and Heard counties, to meet the state's surging energy demand, especially from data centers. The utility company assured residents that data centers will not burden existing power bills, claiming they help stabilize rates, and the project is funded in part by a large federal loan.

electricity government announcement

5/1/2026

News Clip1:41Atlanta News First ·Carroll County, GA

Georgia Power breaks ground on plant to power data center boom

Georgia Power has broken ground on a new hybrid energy system at Plant Wansley in West Georgia, consisting of a 500 MW battery storage and a 1,500 MW natural gas plant. This project is designed to meet the state's surging energy demand, largely driven by data centers. Data centers are contractually obligated to pay for the new infrastructure, which Georgia Power states will help stabilize power bills for existing residential customers.

electricity announcement government

5/1/2026

News ClipAtlanta News First·Carrollton, Carroll County, GA

Georgia Power breaks ground on power plant to help serve data centers

Georgia Power broke ground on a new 1,500-megawatt natural gas plant and a 500-megawatt battery storage system at Plant Wansley near Carrollton, GA. This infrastructure is intended to meet the surging energy demand from data centers, with the Public Service Commission ensuring data centers will cover the costs. The project also received a significant federal loan from the Department of Energy.

electricity government

4/30/2026

News ClipThe Clarion-Ledger·Jackson, Hinds County, MS

New development could change how data centers are powered. What to know

PraCon Global Investment Group has requested Mississippi regulators to confirm that private, on-site power generation for data centers is not a public utility, aiming to allow AI industrial campuses to build off-grid power sources. This move could significantly impact utilities like Entergy and Southern Company. Concurrently, Jackson City Council is considering a temporary moratorium on new data center development to study impacts.

electricity government moratorium announcement

Compass Datacenters

4/22/2026

News Clipdailycaller.com·Atlanta, Fulton County, GA

Power Company Faces Legal Fight For Making Too Much Energy$

Environmental and religious groups have filed a lawsuit against Georgia regulators and Georgia Power, challenging the approval of a significant energy expansion. The lawsuit alleges that the utility company's plan to add 9,617 megawatts, partly to meet demand from future data centers, is unnecessary and will impose undue costs on customers. The plaintiffs claim the Georgia Public Service Commission exceeded its legal authority in approving the expansion.

legal environmental electricity government opposition

4/3/2026

News Clipdecaturish.com·GA

This system is unfair and needs to change

There is significant concern throughout Georgia regarding energy affordability and data centers' impact. Several bills aimed at regulating data center electricity rates and ensuring transparency on resource consumption were defeated in the state Legislature. Voters are urged to participate in upcoming elections to elect officials who will address utility monopolies and lower electricity bills.

electricity water government

3/23/2026

News Clip1:48Grady Newsource·Athens-Clarke County, GA

Athens-Clarke County Likely to Extend Data Center Moratorium

Athens-Clarke County officials are considering extending a moratorium on data center development. Citizens voiced concerns about energy use and other impacts, leading commissioners to signal support for more time to update regulations. A final vote is expected soon.

moratorium electricity

3/17/2026