Hello, supporters of the "We Say No! to Atlas Development's Data Center" petition! First, we hope all those experiencing difficult weather are safe and secure.
Second, it's been so long since our last detailed update, and all we can say is, whoa!
At the time of our last detailed update, 320 folks agreed that they too were against Atlas Development LLC's plan for a new hyperscale data center at the Battey Business Complex in Rome, Georgia, otherwise known as the former Northwest Georgia Regional Hospital site at 705 Division Street.
Since then, nearly six times as many people have shown their support, putting our petition at 1820 supporters! While most are local, some supporters are from across the country, showing that the fight against rampant hyperscale data center proliferation is shared nationally. And that none of us is alone in the fight.
(This jump in numbers is partially thanks to this great video by Elizabeth Hassell, where she links to our petition. Thanks, Elizabeth!)
Since ground has not yet been broken on this Atlas project -- nor on the three (!!!) other data center projects proposed within miles of the Battey site -- now is the time to show local officials and policy makers how much public will is against new hyperscale data center construction. They see our numbers. They've seen the reporting. And they've heard of lawmakers brave enough to stand with their constituents against these destructive and short-sighted projects. We believe this is the best time to encourage our local officials to show their constituents the same type of support.
We'd appreciate your help! If you're willing, you can continue to help us by doing any of the following:
1. Wherever you are: Along with talking to your friends, family, and networks about the threats of hyperscale data centers, please share our petition across your networks!
2. Wherever you are: Check out our Facebook group!
3. Local folks: Consider purchasing or donating a yard sign (email opposeatlasdcbattey@gmail or check out our Linktree for more info)!
4. Local folks: Connect with our in-person action group (email opposeatlasdcbattey@gmail for more info)!
5. Local folks: Help us flood our upcoming municipal and county meetings to let our lawmakers know that we say NO to data centers! And please consider speaking at the commission meetings’ general sessions (no public comment permitted at commission caucuses or RFCDA meetings):
- Rome City Commission: 2nd and 4th Monday of every month. Caucus @ 5:00 p.m.; General session @ 6:30 p.m. Sam King Room and Commission Chambers, 601 Broad Street, Rome, GA 30161. More details here.
- Floyd County Commission: 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month. Caucus @ 4:00 p.m.; General session @ 6:00 p.m. Commissioners Meeting Room, Suite 206, 12 East 4th Avenue, Rome, GA 30161. More details here.
- Rome Floyd County Development Authority: 3rd Tuesday of every month. 9:00 a.m. Suite 102, 800 Broad Street, Rome, GA 30161. (Please note that there's little parking!) More details here and here.
6. Wherever you are: Save and share our Linktree for quick access to the above Oppose Atlas links!
Thank you for helping make our petition a success! We remain hopeful that it – and our continued action – will make a real difference.
Take good care. And thank you, again.
Kelly Limes-Taylor
opposeatlasdcbattey@gmail.com
*Photo credit : Ryan Smith. Photo from Chattanooga Times Free Press, "Mental hospital closure to have regional effects," written by Andy Johns, published May 23, 2011, https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/may/23/mental-hospital-closure-have-regional-effects/