IRWIN COUNTY, Ga. (WALB) — As data centers expand across Georgia, residents in communities like Lowndes and Irwin Counties are raising concerns about water consumption, noise pollution and job promises. The Data Center Coalition is working to address those fears, but many residents remain unconvinced.

Residents say they do not buy the industry’s assurances and still have fears about what data centers could do to their land and environment and the county as a whole. They feel this is a money scheme and not about protecting the country.

Khara Boender, director of state policy at the Data Center Coalition, said the facilities power everyday digital services beyond artificial intelligence.

“Everything from our Zoom and FaceTime calls that we have to the financial transactions that we complete online, to e-commerce, online learning, telehealth, all of that is powered by the underlying infrastructure that is provided by a data center,” Boender said.

Water use comparable to office buildings

One of the most common concerns centers on water consumption, particularly in areas facing drought conditions.

Boender pointed to a December 2024 report from Virginia, the largest data center market in the country, which found that 83% of data centers in the state use the same amount of water or less than the average large office building.

“Data center water use in the state is currently sustainable,” Boender said, citing the Virginia report.

She said data centers are increasingly deploying less water-intensive technologies, including closed-loop cooling systems, direct-to-chip cooling and immersive cooling. The cooling technology is necessary because servers and hardware generate heat that must be dissipated to prevent malfunctions.

“When you look at some of the other large industrial and commercial users, for example, food and beverage industry, semiconductors, on balance, those tend to use more water than a data center does,” Boender said.

Despite these assurances, residents remain concerned about the impact on their water supply and environment.

Noise levels likened to highway traffic

The Virginia report also examined noise levels, finding that data center sound is noticeable but quieter than jets, lawnmowers and conversations at three feet, and not harmful to human hearing.

The report described the sound as a drone or hum, with much of the noise not audible past the property line.

Boender, who lives near Northern Virginia’s data center corridor, said the noise is comparable to nearby highway traffic.

Economic impact and employment

Data centers contributed $29.1 billion to Georgia’s GDP in 2024, a 17% increase from the prior year, according to a report by PwC.

The industry directly employs over 47,000 Georgians and supports a total of 187,660 jobs statewide when accounting for indirect and induced economic activity, the report found. The industry contributed over $16 billion to total labor income in Georgia in 2024.

Boender said construction jobs include electrical workers, steam fitters, pipe fitters, plumbers and HVAC technicians. For every one job in a data center, four and a half jobs are produced in the broader economy, according to the PwC report.

“These facilities do need ongoing maintenance support to ensure that they’re operating effectively and efficiently,” Boender said.

Utility rates and community benefits

Boender addressed concerns about rising electricity prices, noting that multiple factors contribute to rate increases, including supply chain constraints, global conflicts affecting fuel prices and broader electrification of vehicles and appliances.

She said Georgia Power has stated that data centers and other large customers are helping drive down utility rates by spreading costs across a broader customer base. Georgia Power has frozen rates over three years, according to Boender.

Some localities have been able to lower property taxes for residents because of capital investment from data centers, Boender said. In Loudoun County, Virginia, tax revenue from data centers has been allocated to building and improving schools.

“Data centers are highly regulated industry and like many other commercial industrial uses are subject to the siting and zoning and different ordinances that are applicable to them,” Boender said.

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