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LOWNDES, Ga. (WALB) - Residents, doctors, and professors spoke out during the latest Lowndes County Commission meeting, raising concerns about the possibility of data centers being developed in the area.

Several people took the stand during public comments, asking county leaders for more transparency and information about how potential projects could impact nearby neighborhoods.

One resident told commissioners they are not opposed to technology but worry about placing large facilities near residential communities and whether they would provide lasting economic benefits.

“I’m not against the technology, but I am against it being close to so many residential homes, the impact of not long-term jobs being produced, and the statistics behind it that I’ve studied, that I know y’all will study and have studied,” the resident said.

Others who spoke, including medical professionals and educators, raised concerns about possible health impacts, neighborhood safety, water quantity and quality, and the potential effect on property values if a large industrial project were built near homes.

A professor who addressed commissioners said the rapid growth of artificial intelligence and data storage is happening faster than many communities are prepared for.

“Well, I am really concerned that the overall focus of AI and storage and clouds and the needs of AI, I think, are growing astronomically, and I don’t think we’re prepared for it,” the professor said.

The professor also raised concerns about how increasing reliance on artificial intelligence could affect how people learn and research information.

“It’s a really dangerous territory really fast. It’s creating a mental challenge or academic challenge for our children because nobody has to research anymore. Nobody has to look up or verify any documents, and I think it’s just an unhealthy… I think it’s unhealthy,” the professor added.

Lowndes County Commission Chairman Bill Slaughter acknowledged the concerns raised during the meeting and said communication with the public will remain a priority moving forward.

“The thing that we can as we move through this process, what I’ve heard the common denominator mostly is that communication and transparency. You can count on that. We will continue to do that as potentially something develops,” Slaughter said.

According to a statement from Lowndes County, officials are still researching the potential impacts of data centers and gathering information from other communities across Georgia that have experienced both positive and negative effects from similar developments.

County leaders say zoning alone does not automatically approve a data center project. A development of that size would require additional reviews, including a Development of Regional Impact study to evaluate possible impacts such as traffic, water use, electricity demand, noise, drainage, and other infrastructure needs.

Officials also say Lowndes County currently does not have a specific ordinance addressing data centers beyond general light manufacturing standards.

At this time, county leaders say no plans have been submitted, and no permits have been requested or issued for a data center in Lowndes County. They say the county will continue researching the issue and sharing updates with the public as discussions move forward.

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