Albany, Dougherty County looking at data center regulations

ALBANY – Albany and Dougherty County elected officials are taking steps to address the public’s concerns about data centers and scrambling to enact regulations to govern large facilities, should they come knocking to locate in the area.

On Monday, the Dougherty County Commission initiated a 45-day “pause” on considering requests for approval of any new data centers. During a Tuesday work session, members of the Albany City Commission discussed a proposed one-year moratorium on granting approval to large data centers.

While county officials were quick to point out that the pause does not mean a moratorium, the measure approved directs County Attorney Alex Shalishali and the Albany-Dougherty Planning Commission to draft a temporary moratorium on the facilities for consideration by county commissioners.

The commissioners also directed staff to draft a data center ordinance within the 45 days.

“We may have to coexist with these data canters, but not at the citizens’ expense,” Commissioner Anthony Jones said. “You want to make sure you do your homework so we don’t get hurt in this deal.”

City and county officials have said that they are not aware of any pending applications for a data center at this time, but it could only be a matter of time before someone comes calling.

The county’s draft ordinance would cover a wide range of environmental issues, including ensuring appropriate zoning, setbacks, landscaping, buffers and consideration of noise and lighting at the facilities.

In addition, the ordinance is to cover water usage and wastewater, battery/energy storage systems, backup generators and fuel storage, and electrical infrastructure.

Public safety concerns noted in the resolution approved by commissioners include traffic considerations and fire protection.

Other area governments, including Lee and Terrell counties, recently have called for a pause on permitting data centers while they put regulations in place.

On Tuesday, city commissioners differed on their take on how long of a moratorium is needed, with opinions ranging from six to 12 to 18 months. 

The drafting of proposed ordinances should not be a lengthy one, Albany-Dougherty Planning Service Director Paul Forgey said.

“The planning commission has been looking at this for a year or so,” he said. “We could … have something for you as early as the first week in  September. We’ve done a lot of research on this already.”

If a developer brought a project to the planning commission, current regulations would place it under the manufacturing category, Forgey said.

“If one came forward, it would be hard for us to say no,” he said.

The moratorium would allow the commission to halt permitting while it worked on drafting regulations.

The city would have a hard time making a case for a halt of more than a year, City Attorney Michael Custer told commissioners.

“There are limits on how long these can last,” she said.

The city commission could vote on a moratorium at its regular meeting later this month.

“We have been having meetings to collect information,” City Manager Terrell Jacobs said. “Data centers are going to come to Georgia. Data centers are already in Georgia. Property owners have a right to sell their property. It is the responsibility of local government to zone and protect the community you are in.”