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Appling residents raise environmental, noise and infrastructure concerns about proposed large data center
Summary
A resident warned the board the proposed multi‑campus data center in Appling could require multiple substations, glycol cooling systems and may pose water and noise risks; county planning staff confirmed a Development of Regional Impact statement was filed and returned to the county.
A resident of Appling told the Columbia County Board of Commissioners on June 3 she is concerned about a proposed large data center project in her area, saying available materials describe a multi‑building campus that could have significant utility, water and noise impacts.
Susan Warren, who identified her address as Appling, said the developer—identified in her remarks as Mammal Crow of Atlanta—has proposed what she described as a multi‑campus project with up to 29 buildings, an 8,100,000‑square‑foot footprint and an estimated $11 billion investment. "This means that it would take 6 electric substations to give them the power that they're going to need," Warren said, asking whether upgrades and utility costs would fall to Columbia County taxpayers.
County planning staff told Warren that a Development of Regional Impact (DRI) statement had been submitted and returned; staff said the state circulated the DRI to neighboring agencies and that, aside from an acknowledgement from Lincolnton, no substantive feedback had been received. Staff noted that glycol‑based cooling had been identified as likely in planning materials and that the site borders Keyoke Creek and White Oak Creek tributaries.
Warren also raised noise concerns, citing HVAC, cooling towers and backup generators that she said can produce high decibel levels and could create ongoing disturbance. She requested more detailed information about project impacts, environmental protections, and who would pay for required utility upgrades.
Planning staff invited Warren to meet after the hearing to receive the narrative materials submitted with the rezoning and suggested she can also request documents through an open records request.
