The proposed data center in Appling was once again the topic of conversation at the Columbia County Board of Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 21.
Following public comment session where several citizens voiced their opposition to the project, Chairman Doug Duncan read a statement from the full Board of Commissioners about the proposed data center project. The statement is as follows:
“The Columbia County Board of Commissioners is aware of the concerns raised by residents regarding the proposed White Oak Technology Park data center project, and we appreciate the passion our community shows for preserving the quality of life in Appling and across the county. We are committed to responsible development that benefits all residents while protecting our environment and resources. However, we must address the spread of inaccuracies, unfounded accusations of criminal misconduct, and outright falsehoods being propagated by the group Citizens for Open Governance and others. These claims misrepresent the facts, undermine constructive dialogue, and distract from the potential positive impacts of projects like this.
First, allegations of “secret backroom deals” and violations of the Open Meetings Act are inflammatory and without merit. All discussions and decisions have complied with Georgia law. Non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) are standard practice in economic development negotiations nationwide, as they protect sensitive business information and prevent premature disruptions that could jeopardize deals beneficial to the county. These NDAs do not prevent us from sharing key details like environmental safeguards or infrastructure plans with the public o n c e appropriate. Claims that meetings were structured to “evade” transparency ignore the legal allowances for executive sessions and non-quorum gatherings, which are common and necessary to advance projects without exposing competitive details. There has been zero criminal misconduct in this case and such accusations are irresponsible attempts to sensationalize routine processes.
Second, assertions that the project is a “done deal” forced on the community without input are simply untrue. While the Columbia County Development Authority has secured financing and agreements to position the land for development-steps essential to attracting high-quality investors-the project remains in the planning phase. No construction has begun, and key elements, including the identification of a final end user, are not yet finalized. The county does not have all details regarding the end user at this time, as negotiations are ongoing and bound by standard confidentiality to ensure the best outcome for Columbia County. Public input has been and will continue to be sought through open meetings and updates, contrary to claims of “deaf ears” or obstinance. Reversing zoning now, as some suggest, would expose taxpayers to costly lawsuits from developers who have acted in good faith based on approved zoning.
Third, environmental scare tactics, such as fears of aquifer depletion or unchecked water usage, distort the reality of modern data center operations. Any facility would use county water supplies — not private wells — to avoid impacts on local farms or homes. Cooling systems would prioritize closed-loop designs for efficiency and minimal consumption, with commitments to sustainability that align with our Vision 2035 Comprehensive Plan for protecting rural character and promoting high-quality growth. Wildlife disruptions and noise concerns are being addressed through required buffers and site planning, and the project would not compromise our water table or electric grid.
Far from being a “behemoth” burden, the data centers that have been developed, in a similar thoughtful manner, have proven to be valuable assets in communities across Georgia and the nation. They bring substantial economic benefits, including millions in tax revenue that can fund homestead exemptions and potentially reduce or eliminate property taxes for residents-directly fulfilling commitments to ease the financial load on families. These facilities create high-paying jobs in technology, construction, and support services, boost local businesses, and contribute to infrastructure improvements without raising utility bills for everyday residents, as costs are covered by the operators. Nationwide, data centers support billions in economic output and nearly 5 million jobs, with leaders in renewable energy integration to minimize environmental footprints.
We invite residents to engage directly with facts through our public resources and upcoming meetings, rather than relying on misinformation campaigns. The Board remains dedicated to transparency within legal bounds and to decisions that strengthen Columbia County for generations to come. We would like to assure our citizens that accurate updates will be provided as they become available as we strive to operate as one of the best run counties in the nation.”
Public opposition
Alan Wyatt, who has spoken out before against the data center, spoke about what he believes the county will lose with the data center.
“Appling is not just the county seat. Appling is its historical, charmed, foremost character, its central personality,” Wyatt said. “It is in many ways Columbia County’s alpha and omega. Two hundred and thirty-five years ago is when Appling became the heart of Columbia County. The iconic courthouse was built 22 years later and stands as a timeless symbol of our heritage. Appling is still a one street town. Nestled amid wooded lands, rolling farms where the rustle of leaves, lowing of cattle, still today describes the truly wonderful symphony of (Appling),that is where we live. This surly is our essence, is it not? Slow and steady, yet still moving ahead, sacredly but with assured wisdom.”
Wyatt said the data center is not what’s best for the area, and it will destroy Appling and the county. He asked commissioners to issue a moratorium on the data center until “independent experts can comprehensively evaluate this project.”
“Then you will learn what you should’ve learned prior to this, that it is not the right thing to do in Columbia County,” Wyatt said.
Howard Johnson, who is running for District 2 Commissioner, also spoke against the data center.
“I’m not a fan of data centers, personally. I think the product they support is problematic,” Johnson said. “A lot of that goes to AI, which is a neat little party trick of a tool. But if you ever ask it any questions about a topic that you’re quite knowledgeable about, you’ll see that it will very confidently be very wrong and you might pause and consider what you trust AI with. I would suggest you do so. Take a look at the errors it spits out and understand that this product is not the cure all that we’re being sold. The other thing is, data centers are being used to support the infrastructure for that.”
Johnson also mentioned that data centers are being used to house social media platforms, which he described as negative and said he was against.
