AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – Gordon Highway near Haynes Station is where Augusta’s first data center has been approved, but city leaders say more are on the way.“They’re popping up everywhere, there’s going to be one another one being proposed sooner or later in the south Augusta area,” said Commissioner Catherine Smith Rice.City planners are currently working on new regulations for data centers for things like location, noise and size.
The planners are suggesting commissioners adopt a moratorium on new applications until the rules are finished.“We could put one in place, but we have to be careful how we word it, but there are some things we need to learn about data centers,” said Commissioner Lonnie Wimberly.But at the request of the Chair, the Public Services Committee tabled the discussion on adopting the moratorium.“As far as it goes, we can do the ordinances without having to do this moratorium and take a look at it,” said Commissioner Rice.But Commissioner Jordan Johnson said he wants the full commission to take up the data center moratorium at next week’s meeting.
“The citizens have made their voices very clear when it comes down to data centers in our neighborhoods. I think we should take a break and figure out how to hear their voices and turn that into legislative action,” said Commissioner Johnson.Commissioners put off hitting the brakes on data centers, for now but the discussion is just heating up…