COWETA COUNTY, Ga. — Thousands of Coweta County voters are pushing to overturn a controversial data center project approved by county commissioners earlier this year, using a rarely invoked provision of the Georgia Constitution that could force a special election.
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More than 14,000 residents signed a petition seeking to reverse the county’s approval of Project Sail, a massive nine-building data center campus. The petition also seeks to ban future data centers through the county’s zoning code.
The effort could mark the first time in Georgia that voters have used a home rule petition to stop a data center development.
In April, Coweta County commissioners voted 3-2 to approve rezoning for Project Sail, despite opposition from residents.
“We really did not expect that,” resident Vivian Allen said. “We really thought they would vote with the people.”
If built, Project Sail could become one of Georgia’s largest data center campuses. Its total square footage would be more than double the size of the Mall of Georgia.
“It’s the size that was really shocking, so many buildings and each building is so large,” Allen said.
Now, Allen and the group Citizens for Rural Coweta are working to put the decision directly in voters’ hands.
The group began collecting signatures in May, drawing long lines of residents willing to wait for hours in the Georgia heat.
“I went and stood.. in line for three and a half hours,” resident Joann White said.
White also helped gather signatures for the petition, sometimes starting her days before sunrise.
“Up at five o’clock in the morning and be at a stop and go to get signatures,” White said.
The group is using a provision of the Georgia Constitution known as a home rule petition, which requires signatures from at least 10% of the county’s registered voters to trigger the process for a special election.
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Channel 2 Action News found only two other times this provision has successfully been used in Georgia history.
Residents say their concerns extend beyond Project Sail. At least five data centers are already in various stages of planning and development across Coweta County.
“My home is in jeopardy now. Two of the data centers are going to be within four miles of my house,” White said.
Supporters of the petition hope the residents who waited in line to sign it will also turn out to vote if a special election is scheduled.
“I truly believe we can, and I believe even more people are going to show up to vote,” White said.
What happens next?
The more than 14,000 signatures have been submitted to Coweta County Probate Court.
The probate judge has 60 days to review and certify the signatures. If the petition is certified, the county must schedule a special election within 90 days.
Under that timeline, voters could head to the polls by mid-January to decide whether to overturn Project Sail’s approval and prohibit future data centers under the county’s zoning code.
Channel 2 Action News reached out to the Coweta County commissioners who voted in favor of Project Sail, as well as the data center developers.
Prologis, the developers of Project Sail in Coweta, replied with the following statement.
“We are aware that the petition has received the required number of signatures to move forward, and we respect Coweta County’s process and the right of residents to participate in it.
Our focus remains on Project Sail, providing accurate information and continuing to engage with the community and local leaders. For the past two years, our team has met with local officials, nearby property owners and residents, attended community gatherings and hosted a public open house. The April 7 hearing also reflected a range of local perspectives, including residents and community leaders who spoke in support of the project.
At this stage, the petition does not change our commitment to Project Sail. We will continue to engage with the community and answer questions as the county’s process moves forward."
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