EFFINGHAM COUNTY, Ga. — A U.S. senator representing Georgia is calling for a state moratorium on data center construction, starting with one of the largest in the nation in southeast Georgia’s Effingham County.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
This comes a day after Georgia Power signed an agreement with OpenAI, for a data center that would become the single largest electric customer in state history.
Channel 2’s Richard Elliot, the only local reporter in Effingham County on Friday, spoke with both sides of this divisive issue.
With the agreement between Georgia Power and OpenAI, the data center in Effingham County will demand electricity almost equal to the total output of nuclear power Plant Vogtle.
Opponents say the deal was done in the dark. Supporters say it will bring millions to rural Georgia.
Warnock stepped out of a closed door meeting with neighbors of this massive multi-billion project to build one of the largest data centers in the U.S., owned by ChatGPT’s OpenAI.
TRENDING STORIES:
- Officer hospitalized in Cobb County crash
- Measles outbreak linked to metro Atlanta daycare
- Over 100 teachers questioned for walking out of superintendent’s speech
The senator called for a moratorium on data centers and criticized what he says was a lack of transparency by Effingham County leaders.
“The folks woke up one day and discovered that this was going to happen, and that shouldn’t happen,” Warnock said.
The data center site is off Hodgeville Road. Video from NewsDrone 2 shows the vastness of the development for the a very large planned data center.
And in an agreement reached Thursday, the data center will also become Georgia Power’s largest single customer, drawing almost as much power as the output of nuclear power Plant Vogtle.
Channel 2 Action News reached out to county leaders to ask about the project and claims of a lack of transparency but received no response.
Elliot heard from the development authority and the Effingham Chamber, thanking Warnock for his concern but adding, “We should be asking the hard questions, but we cannot afford to lose sight of the opportunity in front of us.”
Georgia Chamber President Chris Clark insists data centers can work in some areas.
“And we’re not saying every community needs a data center, nor should they attract one, but for some communities, it’s a good fit,” he said.
Carrie Weber, who lives in Effingham County, describes what she believes is a lack of public input has poisoned the data center project from the onset.
“They have not given us really an information to work with, which obviously leads to questions and leaves residents scared,” she said.
Georgia Power insists the agreement means Open AI will pay for infrastructure and electric service for the site and that revenue from big power users will mean a lower power bill for everyone.
Warnock on Friday insists that without transparency from this process, the public is left in the dark.
[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
©2026 Cox Media Group
