Walker County officials are beginning work on new regulations for data centers as communities across Georgia see increasing interest from companies developing large-scale digital infrastructure projects. The Walker County Data Center Development Standards Study Committee held its first meeting this past week, drawing more than 40 residents. The committee is tasked with examining how the county should regulate future data center projects in unincorporated areas while protecting local resources and residents’ quality of life. Walker County Planning and Zoning Director Jon Pursley told the committee that the county currently has no ordinances specifically addressing data center development. County staff began researching the issue in March and have reviewed regulations adopted in places including Whitfield and Bartow counties. Pursley said an outright ban is not considered legally viable, meaning the focus is on establishing standards for how such developments would operate. One of the biggest concerns discussed during the meeting was the enormous amount of electricity some data centers can require. Committee members pointed to a neighboring 170-acre development in Dalton that requires about 140 megawatts of power. Members also discussed recent changes by the Tennessee Valley Authority aimed at ensuring data centers and other very large electricity users pay the full cost of the infrastructure and power required to serve them. Water use was another major topic. Officials said…
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