ATLANTA — Georgia’s gubernatorial candidates are offering different approaches to the future of data centers as communities across the state continue debating their impact.
While meeting with business leaders from across Georgia, Republican nominee Rick Jackson said local governments should have the final say on whether data centers are approved.
“I want people to have a voice on that, what we can’t do is have data centers where they don’t get a benefit,” Jackson said.
Jackson says he has heard from people on both sides of the issue and believes communities should have the option to decide.
“As a business person I just want to give them that option so that they know both sides of the street,” Jackson said.
Democratic nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms says she supports pausing the expansion of data centers while more information is gathered.
“We don’t have enough facts on data centers to make an informed decision on how we move forward, we need a pause,” Lance Bottoms said.
She says she wants the state to collect more factual information before deciding how to proceed.
“I want us to gather all of the information, the factual information and then make a determination on how we move forward,” Lance Bottoms said.
Both candidates say there is misinformation surrounding data centers.
Several measures aimed at curbing data center growth failed during the legislative session.
WSB Radio’s Jonathan O’Brien contributed to this story.