Call on your local officials to ensure data centers are GOOD NEIGHBORS!

To mitigate the impact of data centers and on our communities in Georgia, we need a community-centered approach grounded in transparency, accountability, and justice.

Data centers are often bad neighbors. They use massive amounts of electricity and water, create light and noise pollution, contribute to deforestation and pollution, and negatively affect property value while contributing little to our Georgia communities.

Local ordinances enacted by county commissioners can help reduce these impacts. Use this form to call on your local elected officials to take action to ensure data centers are GOOD NEIGHBORS!

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Don't let data centers be bad neighbors in our community

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I am concerned about the impact of data center operations on our community. These facilities consume vast energy and water, produce harmful noise pollution, and offer little local economic benefit. As a community leader, please consider passing a local ordinance restricting data centers in our area as well as rules to make sure they are good neighbors. Strong local legislation is essential to protect our resources and residents. Examples of issues a local ordinance could address includes: • Water and Energy Management Requirements - Disclosing electricity and water use; water consumption and drought plans; and requiring "closed-loop" water cooling systems to minimize water use. • Water Pollution Management Requirements - Stormwater management plans; and requiring "grey water" usage for cooling to reduce consumption of potable water. • Property Management Requirements - Noise abatements and monitoring; transmission line impact assessments; requirements to preserve existing trees on site; reforestation rules; and appearance regulations. • Operations Management Requirements - Obligating data centers to obtain back-up power from clean energy sources like solar with battery storage (many use diesel-burning generators); minimum residence commitments, clearly defined phases of construction; and ownership transfer regulations. • Community Contributions - Requiring battery energy storage for grid resilience; public notices for new infrastructure construction; local hiring requirements; contributions to community projects (playgrounds, solar farms, new parks; and requiring referendums for crypto mining operations. Thank you for your commitment to our community and I hope to hear from you soon.

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