Late last year, Athens-Clarke County Commissioners paused new data center proposals until early March. Proposed regulations for these data storage facilities will be considered tonight at a public meeting.
After months of calls for data center regulations by residents and Athens-Clarke County Commissioners, the Planning Commission will consider drafted rules at a meeting this evening. It may also pass a recommendation for the county Commission to consider.
The proposed rules would limit new data centers to certain zoning areas. They would also require data centers using more than 5 megawatts of electricity per day to pass through a special use procedure and would give the planning department some oversight of large facilities.
A group of nonprofits including the Coalition of Athens Scientists and Athens Land Trust released statements on social media suggesting several adjustments, including increasing public oversight of data center proposals and requiring the use of renewable energy sources by data centers.
