As data center development rapidly expands across Georgia, Walker County officials have begun examining what local regulations could be put in place to protect residents, infrastructure and natural resources if such facilities seek to locate in the county.
The Walker County Data Center Development Standards Study Committee held its inaugural meeting Thursday, drawing more than 40 residents to hear county officials and district appointees begin discussing potential standards for data centers in unincorporated areas.
Economic Development Director Stephanie Watkins opened the meeting by providing a formal definition of data centers and discussing the role the facilities play in everyday digital services.
Planning and Zoning Director Jon Pursley told the committee Walker County currently has no ordinances specifically addressing data center developments.
Pursley said county staff began researching the industry in March and has reviewed regulations adopted or considered by other Georgia communities, including Whitfield and Bartow counties.
He also explained that an outright ban on data centers is not considered a legally viable approach, comparing the situation to previous county efforts to regulate developments such as solar farms and poultry operations.
“No ban? Then it’s our job as a community to make them a benefit, not a nuisance,” District 2 Appointee Jon Madden said.
Much of Thursday’s discussion centered on the amount of electricity and water large data centers can require.
Committee members referenced a 170-acre development in Dalton that requires approximately 140 megawatts of power. Members also discussed recent changes to the Tennessee Valley Authority’s wholesale rate structure designed to ensure data centers and other major power users pay the costs associated with serving their significant electricity demands rather than shifting those expenses to other customers.
Water consumption was another major concern.
In response to questions from District 1 Appointee Jason Rader, officials said Walker County could require data centers to use closed-loop water cooling systems. Members discussed the possibility of establishing water-use thresholds and requiring filtration systems when closed-loop systems are flushed.
The committee also discussed whether local water providers should charge data centers higher utility rates to help cover infrastructure improvements needed to serve the facilities.
Potential impacts on neighboring property owners were also examined.
District 3 Appointee Laura Owsley raised concerns about noise and light pollution affecting nearby residents and wildlife and suggested continuous sound monitoring could be required.
Members discussed increasing the existing 50-foot commercial-to-residential setback to as much as 200 feet, along with requiring 20 feet of dedicated greenspace to provide additional separation between data centers and residential properties.
Financial incentives generated some of the strongest discussion of the meeting.
District 4 Appointee Travis Middleton voiced opposition to long-term tax abatements, arguing that incentive packages lasting as long as 30 years could create additional financial pressure on local school systems.
District 1 Appointee Barney Danks also expressed opposition to tax abatements. Middleton additionally said the county should avoid paying for utility extensions, including water lines, needed to serve new data center developments.
Rader proposed requiring operators to enter into Community Benefit Agreements, which could establish commitments from developers in exchange for locating facilities in the county.
Committee members also discussed how to ensure facilities remain accountable after construction.
Owsley called for closing potential zoning loopholes that could allow properties to change uses without additional oversight. She cited a Whitfield County bitcoin mining operation that later transitioned into a data center as an example and suggested Walker County consider requiring decommissioning bonds.
Walker County Chamber of Commerce President Lacey Smith and Middleton pointed to Floyd County’s recently adopted data center ordinance as another possible model because it includes standards addressing decommissioning.
The committee’s work is still in its early stages, and no final ordinance or development standards were adopted Thursday.
Before its next meeting, members are expected to receive examples of data center regulations from surrounding communities, along with additional information explaining differences between hyperscale and smaller data center facilities.
The committee will reconvene Sept. 10 and is scheduled to meet every other Thursday at 4 p.m. on the Walker County Civic Center campus.