Our request

We respectfully ask the Wilkes County Board of Commissioners to:

1. Enact a 12-month moratorium on the approval of new data centers and related large-scale data-center developments in Wilkes County;

2. Use the moratorium period to conduct independent studies of water, power, environmental, infrastructure, noise, traffic, tax, and community impacts;

3. Hold meaningful public meetings and allow Wilkes County residents an opportunity to participate in the process; and

4. Develop appropriate zoning, land-use, infrastructure, environmental, noise, setback, and community-benefit requirements before additional data-center projects are approved.

We believe Wilkes County deserves the opportunity to study first, plan carefully, and protect its future.

Please sign this petition and ask the Wilkes County Board of Commissioners to give our community 12 months to get the facts, establish appropriate regulations, and make informed decisions about large-scale data-center development.  

Contact our Wilkes County Board of Commissioners at wilkescountyga.org

Sam Moore - Commisioner Chairman

Gloria Battle - District 1

Ed Geddings - District 2

Charles Jackson - District 3

Clem Slaton - District 4

Contact the Washington City Council & Mayor

https://www.wga.gov/mayor-and-council.php

Contact the Washington Wilkes Payroll Authority 

What a 12-month moratorium could accomplish

Where would it be located?
How large could it become?
What companies and developers are involved?
What agreements have already been made?
Give elected officials time to investigate before making long-term decisions
Review the potential benefits and costs.
Hear from experts.
Examine experiences of other communities that have welcomed data centers.
Determine what protections Washington-Wilkes needs.
Study water usage and availability
Determine how much water a proposed facility could require.
Examine the impact on existing residents, agriculture and businesses.
Determine whether additional water infrastructure would be necessary.
Understand the electricity and transmission requirements
Determine the expected power demand.
Identify whether new substations or transmission lines could be necessary.
Understand where that infrastructure would go and who would pay for it.
Evaluate the impact on roads and infrastructure
Construction traffic.
Road improvements.
Emergency services.
Fire and rescue capabilities.
Long-term infrastructure costs.
Establish reasonable protections for nearby property owners
Setbacks.
Noise limits.
Lighting.
Landscaping/buffering.
Construction restrictions.
Protection from potential impacts on surrounding properties.
Review zoning and county ordinances
Are current regulations adequate for facilities of this size?
Do existing zoning classifications address modern data centers?
Does the county need new regulations before approving additional projects?
Study environmental impacts
Water.
Noise.
Land disturbance.
Stormwater.
Wildlife and surrounding natural resources.
Backup generators and other associated infrastructure.
Create a transparent public process
Give residents clear information.
Hold public meetings.
Allow questions and public comment.
Make relevant documents available for public review.
Determine the actual economic benefit to Washington-Wilkes
How many permanent jobs?
How much tax revenue?
What incentives or abatements might be offered?
What public infrastructure costs could be involved?
What is the long-term financial benefit versus the cost?
Give the community time to establish a comprehensive data-center policy.