Meeting Story

Athens- Clarke County commissioners, residents and students packed City Hall on Tuesday as there were many concerns regarding the future of data center development.

Residents expressed their concerns about the potential growing use of data centers around Athens and their potential detrimental impact on local neighborhoods, mainly those facing ongoing economic and environmental challenges.

Community members shared similar concerns and the importance of community involvement in future issues.

“Everyone should have a voice on data center development,” said Summer Blanco, a resident of Athens.

According to residents, data centers would be placed in communities that already need assistance and cause more disturbance. Residents fear that the placement of these centers will increase bills, noise and health concerns. Many Black residents were conflicted with the data center locations, as many were planned to be located near Black and working- class neighborhoods. Many residents like Willie Thomas are against data centers because they will be in the Black community. The residents care about their resources more than money. 

“People over profits, community over corporations, health over harm,” said Dr. Tawana Mattox.

Grace Holmes, a student at UGA focusing on sustainability, supported the voices of younger residents as she said she is concerned about long-term impacts. As a younger person growing up in Georgia, she said she is worried about these developments and their future, a call for sustainable planning.

Commission member Ovita Thornton was worried about runoff water and its potential hazards, which led to her request to extend the moratorium due to more questions. 

Another commission member, Melissa Link, shared her community's concerns. Link said she recently went to a meeting in Winterville and was told that it's a huge concern in the community, as 100 people showed up. Link valued the importance of citizens and taking care of the planet, and to not take advantage of this technology like ChatGPT unless absolutely needed. 

With the planning of data centers, residents worry about the long-term effects. Residents worry that after the data centers are done being used, they will just waste land and mess up more broken neighborhoods. Residents would rather the land be used for affordable housing, as later brought up in the meeting.

Residents said they were worried about these data center projects and their impact on the local Athens-Clarke community. As voices from all over Athens advocated for a more sustainable future, Athens' residents said they were committed to protecting their neighborhoods, environment and resources against data centers.