Residents raised concerns about water use, electricity demand and noise during a packed public meeting. Residents raised concerns about water use, electricity demand and noise during a packed public meeting. A proposed data center in Statesboro moved closer to development Tuesday after the city’s Planning Commission recommended approval of a zoning change needed for the project. Residents packed the meeting to oppose the proposal, which would cover nearly 27 acres along Burkhalter Road. The property is currently zoned for residential use, and developers argued that a data center would generate significantly less traffic than homes. Some attendees cited concerns that have emerged around data center projects nationwide, including their demand for water and electricity and the noise produced by equipment operating around the clock. “We have been in an awful drought,” resident Nadia Dreid said. “Water is not an infinite resource.” Resident Lindsey Williams questioned how the proposed facility’s electricity needs could affect the wider community. “This project proposes a dedicated Georgia Power substation and a facility requiring 99 megawatts of electricity,” Williams said. “What does that mean for the rest of Statesboro?” Lori Braselton, who said she purchased her home in March, expressed concern about possible round-the-clock noise and its effect on her property value. “I just see my investment in my new home going down the tubes,” Braselton said. Developers disputed residents’…
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