Columbia County residents discuss proposed data centers at town hall

EVANS, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - Columbia County residents attended a town hall meeting on Tuesday to discuss three proposed data centers planned for the area.

The Citizens for Open Governance hosted the meeting at Harlem Middle School to address the Pumpkin, Byrd Farm and White Oak data center projects.

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Discussions centered on water usage, tax breaks, construction traffic and noise — issues raised in previous meetings.

Many neighbors shared concerns at the last planning commission meeting, which lasted five hours.

Traci Fiebiger, who lives near the White Oak center site, said the project would significantly alter the area.

“We thought we built a family property to be passed on to generation after generation,” Fiebiger said. “And now the back part will possibly overlook a data center, instead of acres and acres of woods.”

Steve Uhles, with the Savannah Riverkeeper, said he’d like to see more restrictions if the centers were built.

All three centers would be located near I-20 at Exit 183.

The Pumpkin Center would be built in the Green Point neighborhood and would include a 70-decibel limit being tested.

The Byrd Farm project would include 18 data centers off Nature’s Way and Louisville Road.

The White Oak project would include 29 data center buildings.

Commissioners are expected to vote on the data centers next Tuesday.