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Albany board agrees to seek more information on proposed regional data‑center partnership
Summary
Boardors delayed a decision and authorized staff to continue negotiations with a Georgia data‑center developer after discussing long‑term power commitments, a proposed 50/50 revenue split for participating cities and the city’s excess generation. Staff will return in two weeks with financial and contract details.
Mister Jacobs told the board that an electric‑cities consortium has presented an opportunity to participate in a regional data‑center development in Georgia and asked the board whether Albany should express interest. He said there is “about 7,000 megawatts of potential data center service” in the state and that MEAG is planning roughly 1,200 megawatts of combined‑cycle generation to serve some of that load. Jacobs said one host county has rezoned about 600 acres and proposed a phase‑1 “80 megawatt” load, with that county committing 30 megawatts and seeking other cities to subscribe to the remaining capacity.
Board members pressed for more specifics on term length, price and the proposed revenue split. Several members said they were uncomfortable with a long fixed commitment. One member noted the board already has a 5‑megawatt commitment to Robertsville for five years and that Albany currently reports excess capacity of about 18 megawatts. Members asked staff to quantify what Albany would pay and what the city would receive under different subscription levels and whether the 50/50 split offered to participating cities was negotiable.
Jacobs recommended staff work with Electric City/MEAG and provide a written analysis of revenue, contract terms and the city’s exposure under a 50/50 subscription. The board voted to delay a final decision for two weeks and authorized staff to continue negotiations and return with the requested analysis. The motion carried on a roll call vote.
