Protect Our Water, Land & Communities: Require Independent Impact Reviews Before Approving New Large-Scale Data Centers Petition to State and Local Leaders We, the undersigned, call upon state and local officials to temporarily suspend approval of new large-scale data centers until independent, publicly available studies demonstrate that these facilities can operate without compromising the long-term availability and sustainability of our water, land, and wildlife. This petition is not opposed to technological advancement or economic development. Rather, it recognizes that water, land, and the ecosystems we depend on are essential resources for our communities, our agriculture, our wildlife, and future generations. No one asked us. Before land was surveyed or permits were filed, the people who live on this land, drink this water, and depend on these ecosystems were never given a real seat at the table. Today, this petition is the most direct way we have to make sure these decisions are made in the open. Why This Matters Our Water — Cooling systems built on evaporation can lose up to 80% of the water they draw straight into the atmosphere, water that never returns to our rivers and aquifers. A single large facility can use up to 9 million gallons a day; closed-loop systems can run on a fraction of that, yet aren’t required. This isn’t hypothetical: one Georgia data center recently drew an estimated 29 million gallons through unmetered connections while nearby residents were told to stop watering their lawns during a drought. Elsewhere, well water near another site turned visibly discolored enough to be raised before Congress. Our Land & Wildlife — These campuses can span hundreds to thousands of acres, replacing forest and wetland with rooftops and pavement, surfaces that worsen flooding for neighboring land. The wetlands lost are the same ones that filter our water, stabilize shorelines, and buffer storms. Keystone species like the gopher tortoise, whose burrows shelter dozens of other animals, along with bald eagles, foxes, and deer, are already being displaced by similar projects elsewhere in Georgia. Our Health & Communities — Backup diesel generators run regularly for testing, adding constant noise and air emissions for nearby residents. Rural South Georgia and NE Florida are already under drought stress, with a statewide wildfire emergency declared this year, even as new sites keep breaking ground. Zoning and water decisions are too often finalized before residents are educated or given a real chance to weigh in. Communities Deserve Transparency Before additional facilities are approved, residents deserve clear answers: How much water will be consumed annually? What sources will be used? Will drinking water be used when reclaimed alternatives exist? What effects could withdrawals have on aquifers, rivers, wetlands, agriculture, and wildlife? How will drought be managed? Who bears the long-term cost if resources become strained? We Call Upon State and Local Leaders To: 1. Require independent water-impact studies before approving new large-scale data centers. 2. Mandate full public disclosure of projected and actual water consumption. 3. Prioritize reclaimed and recycled water over potable drinking water whenever feasible. 4. Require comprehensive environmental reviews and public hearings before approval, not after. 5. Protect aquifers, rivers, wetlands, and wildlife habitat from unsustainable withdrawals and clearing. 6. Ensure residents, agriculture, and ecosystems are prioritized over industrial use during water scarcity. 7. Hold companies receiving public incentives accountable for long-term water and environmental stewardship. Responsible Growth Requires Responsible Stewardship Protecting our water, land, and wildlife is not opposition to progress, it is a commitment to ensuring progress remains sustainable for the communities, ecosystems, and future generations who depend on it. Protect our water. Protect our land. Protect our communities. Protect our future.