(ATLANTA, GA.) - Atlanta residents are worried about how fast data centers are growing in Atlanta and whether they are needed.
More than 30 people responded to a post on Nextdoor asking about their thoughts on data centers in the city.
The responses raised questions about how many data centers Georgia needs, how they could affect electricity and water use, and whether residents have enough information before more projects are approved.
Photo Credit: NextDoor / Mia S.
Vicky Grove, who lives in Ansley Park, pointed to the number of data centers already operating in Georgia and said she thinks there should be a limit.
“Georgia already has about 100 data centers,” Grove wrote. “I think the massive amount data from our voices, vehicles, and even conversations gathered from Flock cameras is driving the need for the data centers. There should be a limit to them.”
Barb Parker of Pine Hills said she wants officials to look at the effects of existing data centers before approving more.
“We need a process that includes environmental impact studies, energy usage projections, and the costs both direct and indirect to consumers,” Parker wrote.
Parker also questioned whether the state should limit where data centers can be built.
“Do we allocate a limited amount of land in specific areas of the state and when that limit is reached we close the process?” she wrote. “Before we build another Data center we better build a process, and we have to look at what already exists and how it affects residents.”
For other residents, electricity is a major concern.
Ed Wright of Shenandoah/Henderson Hills said data centers can affect residents even if they are not paying directly for the facilities.
“One of the costs that is affecting people is the cost of generating more electricity and the infrastructure that is required to support and distribute electricity to the Data center,” Wright wrote.
Wright also raised questions about water use as Atlanta continues to grow.
“Atlanta keeps growing, but the Chattahoochee River below the Buford dam can only supply so much water,” he wrote.
The discussion comes as Atlanta City Council members consider a proposed Data Center Task Force. The resolution was sent back to the committee on August 17 after council members raised concerns about duplicating a data-center strategy group being developed by Mayor Andre Dickens’ administration.
For residents on NextDoor, however, the questions go beyond what happens at City Hall. They want to know what data centers could mean for the resources they rely on and whether the benefits are worth the costs.
Toni Joyce of College Park said she does not think officials know enough about the long-term effects of data centers to move forward.
“My thought is that NOBODY has enough info on immediate and long term effects of data centers to come up with any provisions for moving ahead,” Joyce wrote. “There should be no moratorium. There should be an end to this type of development.”
One of the biggest concerns raised by residents — whether data-center growth could lead to higher electric bills — has been addressed by Georgia Power.
In July, Georgia Power said residential customers will not pay higher energy bills because of data-center growth. The utility said data centers and other large customers will pay for the infrastructure needed to serve them.
“We are signing 15 to 25 year contracts so if they back out they are still paying,” Georgia Power media relations manager Meredith Stone told WTVM. “Data centers are also paying for all of the infrastructure that’s required for serving them.”
To add to or correct information in this report, please contact me at mia.s@lead4earth.org.
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