Over the past several months, residents across Augusta-Richmond County have raised serious questions about the rapid development of large commercial data centers campuses and their potential long-term impacts on our community.

These concerns include land use, energy and water demands, infrastructure capacity, environmental impacts, stormwater management, noise, public resources, transparency, accountability, and whether future developments are consistent with the community we want Augusta-Richmond County to become.

As Augusta-Richmond County considers a new data center ordinance, residents have an important opportunity to help shape that policy.

We are calling on the Augusta-Richmond County Commission to prohibit the approval of new commercial data center campuses in Augusta-Richmond County.

This prohibition should not prevent hospitals, universities, governmental facilities, military installations, public-safety facilities and other institutions from maintaining or developing data infrastructure that is accessory to and primarily supports their own operations.

Standalone large commercial data center campuses, particularly large and hyperscale developments, can require substantial amounts of land, electricity, water, and supporting infrastructure.

Federal environmental review records for the proposed Gordon Highway data center identified six threatened, endangered or proposed species for consideration in the project’s effects analysis: the tricolored bat, red-cockaded woodpecker, southern hognose snake, monarch butterfly, Ocmulgee skullcap, and relict trillium.

Before allowing additional standalone facilities, Augusta-Richmond County should prioritize the long-term interests of residents, existing institutions, public infrastructure, environmental resources and future generations.

Augusta-Richmond County already has a major proposed data center development underway.

The community should not be expected to accept an unlimited expansion of this type of development.

We believe responsible economic development requires very clear boundaries.

Our request is simple:

Adopt an ordinance prohibiting new standalone commercial data centers in Augusta-Richmond County while preserving the ability of hospitals, universities, government, military, public-safety, and similar institutions to operate data infrastructure necessary to support their primary missions.

By signing this petition, you are asking Augusta-Richmond County’s elected leaders to hear the community’s voice and establish this policy before additional standalone commercial data centers of any size are approved.

*September 4, 2026 Update*

Our position remains clear: we continue to ask Augusta-Richmond County to prohibit the approval of new standalone large commercial data center campuses.

At the same time, we recognize that the Commission may ultimately choose a different path. If Augusta is not prepared to prohibit additional standalone commercial data center campuses, then we are asking for a 150- to 180-day extension of the current moratorium before any new ordinance is finalized or additional projects are approved.

That additional time should be used for meaningful public review of the final ordinance language, including any redline changes, and for further examination of key issues, including tax incentives, infrastructure costs, measurable community benefits, and lessons from the QTS/Eisenhower project and comparable developments in other communities.

Citizens should have an opportunity to review the final language and provide meaningful feedback before commissioners are asked to vote.

Give the public time to review the final proposal. Then make the decision.

Please sign and share this petition.

Our community deserves a meaningful voice in decisions that may shape Augusta-Richmond County for generations to come.