Atlanta Could Ban Data Centers Along Beltline

The Atlanta City Council is considering banning data centers along the Beltline corridor and near rapid transit stops based on concerns that the massive facilities disrupt the walkability of the multiuse trail and guzzle too much electricity. “The legislation mirrors similar bans on new storage facilities, gas stations and drive-thru restaurants within the Beltline overlay district, which city leaders said should foster pedestrian-focused developments,” Zachary Hansen explains in Governing.

The proposed legislation would not affect existing centers, but it could prevent them from expanding. “The legislation was also influenced by Georgia Power’s recent request for regulators to approve huge amounts of new electricity-generating capacity — mostly powered by fossil fuels — mainly due to the vast number of data center projects across the state. Georgia Power executives have said data centers are responsible for roughly 80 percent of the demand crunch it says it is facing.”