'Just selling us out for money': DeKalb residents voice opposition to data centers during town hall

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DeKalb County Commissioner Ted Terry spoke to residents about the latest draft of data center regulations during a town hall meeting.

Credit: Amanda Andrews / GPB News

DeKalb County residents voiced their opposition to a proposed data center during a town hall meeting Wednesday. DeKalb leaders are working to create regulations to address the growing number of data center developments. 

This is DeKalb’s fourth town hall about data centers. Speakers included County Commissioners Ted Terry and LaDena Bolton as well as Peter Hubbard, who was recently elected to the Public Service Commission. 

Residents shared concerns about data centers affecting health, lowering property values, and straining water infrastructure.

The drafted regulation includes 500-foot buffers, noise limits, and bans on diesel generators. Options still being considered include adding more clean energy requirements, more community protections, and greater oversight. 

Many residents said they’re interested in a total data center ban, but Bolton said that would create problems.

“If we say no data centers whatsoever, and there's no legal standing for that, when they sue, then we lose all of our rights to regulate what we want,” she said. “They can sue and get what they want. This way, when we regulate on the front end, we tell them what we will allow in our communities.”

DeKalb resident Brandon Brown said the Wednesday night meeting was the first time he heard a ban isn’t feasible. He said DeKalb leaders should explain legal nuance more clearly.

“I think everybody in the community is feeling like they're just selling us out for money — and that's how it comes across if you don't explain it in any further,” Brown said. “If it were at all possible to do a permanent moratorium, I would be all for it. But in lieu of that, I think having the strongest text amendment and regulations possible is a good thing.”

Commissioner Terry said zoning laws are a limiting factor, but the drafted regulations require data centers to obtain a special land use permit (SLUP). He said that will give the community more options.

“SLUPs are special land use permits," he said. “They're special, which means we can have special conditions. This is when we can actually say, well, this is what the neighborhood actually would like to see come out of that, the protections we want.”

The county has received an application for one data center so far. It would be on Loveless Drive. Current tax estimates show it would be a $1 billion development and bring in $26 million to the county annually.

Terry reassured residents at the town hall if DeKalb County gets a data center, it will be as quiet, clean, and green as possible. He said he’s also looking at how other communities reinvest funds from data centers into the community. 

“We've seen workforce development. we've seen great infrastructure,” he said. “We’ve seen trails, parks, paving roads, building sidewalks, additional public safety, air and water quality monitoring, noise monitoring.” 

Stacey Shorts attended the meeting on Wednesday. She said she’s disappointed they’re having to pressure elected officials to protect the community's interest.

“We've heard repeatedly about the amount of revenue that's gonna be brought in from these or projected to be brought in from these projects,” she said. “I think that's the main driver. They have the authority. The other Commissioner Bolton when she said that she might get sued, I would actually encourage that.”

The drafted regulations will be up for a vote again on Tuesday, Dec. 16, when the county’s current data center moratorium expires.