Georgia state lawmakers spent months debating ideas to curb the impact of data centers. But as their annual legislative session ended Thursday, they did nothing.
Now with election season upon them, lawmakers are returning home to find local communities up in arms against the warehouses full of computers that power artificial intelligence.
“I think they failed us, that’s what I think” said Judy Mullis, an activist fighting plans for a data center near Newnan, southwest of Atlanta. “I think they had the opportunity to do the right thing, and they didn’t. I’m so tired of them prioritizing big money.”
Georgia has become one of the country’s top sites for new data centers, thanks to utilities eager to sell electricity and tax breaks estimated to cost state and local governments nearly $3 billion in the year beginning July 1.
They said the same thing when Trump became the front runner in 2016. Never underestimate the Democrat’s ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Don’t get complacent, don’t expect the populace to notice or care.