Take urgent action to keep Georgia taxpayer dollars from subsidizing corporate interests and slow the expansion of data centers. HB 1192, a bill that has already been passed in both chambers, seeks to put a two-year pause on tax breaks for data center development. During this pause, a study commission would review Georgia's electric grid and energy supply and determine Georgia's capacity for data centers. Georgia Power ratepayers are already footing the bill for the $35 billion Vogtle 3 & 4 nuclear reactors, and the utility company is now saying they’ll need to expand infrastructure to support further increased demand. Georgia Power has pointed to the rapid expansion of data centers as being to blame for 80% of the demand. Continuing these tax breaks will cost Georgia $44 million just this year. Urge Governor Kemp to sign this bill before his May 7th deadline to enact or veto legislation!
Not only are data centers putting a financial burden on Georgia and its residents, their operations are creating concerns within communities around the state. Data centers have been responsible for noise disturbances within Adel, Georgia, where residents have to deal with the incessant drone of hundreds of energy-intensive supercomputers on a daily basis. This disruption severely impacts residents' everyday lives. Some have even resorted to using earplugs and soundproofing materials within the confines and structures of their own homes. Corporate interests should not take precedence over the welfare of Georgia residents, and we should not be helping drive up their profits by providing tax breaks. Governor Kemp has until May 7th, 2024 to sign this bill into law, so please help us uplift this and get his attention!