Public Opposition Grows Against Datacenter Projects in Georgia and Essex

Rapid construction of datacenters driven by AI demand faces increasing public resistance over environmental and community impacts. In Coweta County, Georgia, controversy surrounds Project Sail, a proposed $17 billion datacenter on 831 acres, following allegations that county officials held private meetings with project lobbyists.

Residents are mobilizing against the project, with a potential vote on a draft datacenter ordinance scheduled for December 16. Nationwide, $64 billion in datacenter projects have been delayed or blocked due to community actions, including in Pennsylvania where opposition outnumbers support.

The Sierra Club has urged technology companies to ensure datacenters use clean energy, criticizing their reliance on fossil fuels. In Essex, England, Google’s plans for a datacenter at North Weald Airfield were approved despite local concerns about market operations and job distribution. Discussions on public perceptions of datacenters were held at the Datacloud Global Congress in Cannes.