ATLANTA — This week, state auditors revealed their analysis of Georgia data centers had significantly inflated the economic impact of the facilities.
The Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts initially claimed:
- Construction and operations of data centers would add about $4.2 billion to the state’s economy. The state agency has now revised that figure down by nearly $3 billion to just $1.25 billion.
- Construction jobs expected to be created by data centers were revised down from about 28,000 to 8,500.
- Operations jobs were shifted down from about 5,400 to just 1,600.
Meanwhile, the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) just approved a proposal from Georgia Power to add 10 new gigawatts of electricity to the grid. 80% of that increase is attributable to data centers. The PSC’s own staff estimated the plan will cost Georgia Power customers $50-60 billion.
“Why are Georgians giving away nearly half a billion dollars in tax breaks while getting so little in return? The original state report already told us that 70% of data centers would have come to Georgia without generous tax breaks. Now we find out that the state’s economic impact is billions of dollars less than originally reported,” said Adrien Webber, Sierra Club of Georgia Chapter Director.
The Sierra Club Georgia Chapter is urging state lawmakers to hold data center operations accountable. Specifically, the Sierra Club is requesting lawmakers support:
- HB 528, which would require more transparency from data centers about their electricity and water use and their expected economic impact.
- SB 34 to force data centers to pay for the upgrades to our electric grid being made to power them.
- HB 559, which would end the state tax break for data centers at the end of 2026, five years earlier than currently scheduled.
“We need greater transparency and data centers to pay their fair share. Strong pieces of legislation that have already been filed would shine a light on the true impact data centers have on our state, ensure higher electric costs are not passed on to Georgia families, and stop giving away tax money to an industry that plans to invest in Georgia regardless. The Sierra Club Georgia Chapter is calling on state lawmakers to pass these bills this year,” said Webber.
About the Sierra Club Georgia Chapter
The Sierra Club Georgia Chapter is the largest grassroots environmental organization in the state, with more than 75,000 members and supporters. The Chapter supports a robust outings program and has active committees working on forest and coastal protection, transit expansion, and clean energy. For more information, visit sierraclub.org/georgia.
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit sierraclub.org.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Ricky Leroux, Communications Strategist
470-719-4512 | ricky.leroux@sierraclub.org
Amy Rawe, Communications Director, SACE
865-235-1448 | amyr@cleanenergy.org