Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Columbia County Deal topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Columbia County says Google will pay 100% of energy costs, plans homestead tax relief
Summary
Columbia County officials said a partnership with Google and Georgia Power includes covenants that make Google responsible for upstream and downstream energy costs and that the county intends to redirect revenue to reduce or eliminate homestead property taxes for homeowners.
Columbia County Commissioner Doug Duncan described a development pact with Google and Georgia Power that he said includes "some of those most restrictive data center covenants in the country," and he emphasized that "Google is committed to be solely responsible for paying 100% of all upstream and downstream energy costs." Duncan said the county plans to divert project revenue back to homeowners as a path to reduce or eliminate homestead property taxes.
Duncan credited state and legislative cooperation in enabling the county's planned rebates and said local negotiators worked through opposition and public comment to secure the deal. He urged residents that the agreement protects ratepayers and channels value back to homeowners.
