--- title: "Data Center: News, Information & Resource Center for Atlanta" url: https://www.hereatlanta.com/data-center-atlanta-ga/ date: 2026-11-06T05:48:03-05:00 modified: 2026-11-06T05:48:03-05:00 author: "" site: "HERE Atlanta" attribution: "HERE Atlanta" --- # Data Center: News, Information & Resource Center for Atlanta > Data centers near Atlanta, GA: who decides — zoning, city council, the Georgia Public Service Commission — plus news and official links from HERE Atlanta. *Source: [HERE Atlanta](https://www.hereatlanta.com/data-center-atlanta-ga/) — November 6, 2026 by * [Home](https://www.hereatlanta.com/)›[Politics](https://www.hereatlanta.com/politics-atlanta-ga/)›Data Center Resource CenterAtlanta, GA · Politics of Data # Data Center: News, Information & Resource Center for Atlanta GA Who decides where data centers go near Atlanta: the regulators, councils, planning boards and agencies with a vote, with names, contacts and the official source for each. Plus the project tracker, the tax rules and the latest reporting from HERE Atlanta. **5**State regulators named**2**Local officials named**20**State legislators**3**Projects tracked[Who decides](#who-decides)[Project tracker](#project-tracker)[Incentives](#incentives)[News](#dc-news)[Tell your story](#tell-your-story)[FAQ](#dc-faq)[Sources](#sources)The Decision-Makers ## Who decides on data centers near Atlanta A data center needs a yes from several bodies at once: the land-use board that rezones the site, the elected council or commission that approves incentives and agreements, the utility that sells the power, the state commission that regulates that utility, and the agencies that permit water and air. Names below come from the official pages linked on each card. State utility regulator ### Georgia Public Service Commission Five elected statewide commissioners regulate Georgia Power and approve its capacity plans and large-load rules. - **Jason Shaw***Chairman, District 1* - **Lauren "Bubba" McDonald***Vice Chairman* - **Peter Hubbard***Commissioner* - **Alicia M. Johnson***Commissioner* - **Stan Wise***Commissioner* [Commission website](https://psc.ga.gov/)[Commissioner page](https://psc.ga.gov/about-the-psc/commissioners/)Source: [Commissioner roster](https://psc.ga.gov/about-the-psc/commissioners/)Power & water providers ### Who sells the power - **[Georgia Power](https://www.georgiapower.com/)***Investor-owned electric* - **[Georgia EMCs](https://www.georgiaemc.com/)***Member-owned co-ops* - **[MEAG Power](https://www.meagpower.org/)***Municipal electric wholesale* Which utility serves a given site depends on its address. Large-load power contracts are negotiated with the serving utility and, for regulated utilities, approved by the state commission. City · votes on rezonings & agreements ### Atlanta elected leaders - **[Andre Dickens](https://www.atlantaga.gov)***Mayor of Atlanta* [Council page, agendas & contacts](https://citycouncil.atlantaga.gov)Source: [Official source](https://citycouncil.atlantaga.gov)County · incentives, land outside city limits ### Fulton County government - **[Robb Pitts](https://www.fultoncountyga.gov/)***Fulton County Commission Chairman* [County governing board](https://www.fultoncountyga.gov/commissioners)Source: [Official source](https://www.fultoncountyga.gov/commissioners)Land use ### Planning & zoning - **[City planning & zoning (official city website)](https://www.atlantaga.gov)***See the city site for the board and meeting dates* The planning body reviews rezonings and site plans and recommends to the elected board; data center rezonings and development agreements are typically decided by the council or county commission. Recruitment & incentives ### Economic development - **[Georgia Department of Economic Development](https://www.georgia.org/)***State recruitment and incentives* Permits ### Water, air & environment - **[Georgia Environmental Protection Division](https://epd.georgia.gov/)***Air, water and land permits* State legislature · writes the data-center statutes ### Your state legislators - **[Josh McLaurin](https://www.house.ga.gov/Representatives/en-US/member.aspx?Member=4942&Session=27)***Senate 14 (D)* - **[Jaha Howard](https://www.legis.ga.gov/members/senate/5090)***Senate 35 (D)* - **[Nan Orrock](https://www.legis.ga.gov/members/senate/33)***Senate 36 (D)* - **[RaShaun Kemp](https://www.legis.ga.gov/members/senate/5066)***Senate 38 (D)* - **[Sonya Halpern](https://www.legis.ga.gov/members/senate/4985)***Senate 39 (D)* - **[Elena Parent](https://www.legis.ga.gov/members/senate/768)***Senate 44 (D)* - **[Deborah Silcox](https://www.house.ga.gov/Representatives/en-US/member.aspx?Member=4887&Session=27)***House 53 (R)* - **[Betsy Holland](https://www.house.ga.gov/Representatives/en-US/member.aspx?Member=4943&Session=27)***House 54 (D)* - **[Inga Willis](https://www.legis.ga.gov/members/house/5027)***House 55 (D)* - **[Bryce Berry](https://www.legis.ga.gov/members/house/5069)***House 56 (D)* - **[Stacey Evans](https://www.house.ga.gov/Representatives/en-US/member.aspx?Member=762&Session=25)***House 57 (D)* - **[Park Cannon](https://www.house.ga.gov/Representatives/en-US/member.aspx?Member=4880&Session=27)***House 58 (D)* - **[Phil Olaleye](https://www.legis.ga.gov/members/house/5028)***House 59 (D)* - **[Sheila Jones](https://www.house.ga.gov/Representatives/en-US/member.aspx?Member=143&Session=27)***House 60 (D)* - **[Mekyah McQueen](https://www.legis.ga.gov/members/house/5070)***House 61 (D)* - **[Tanya Miller](https://www.legis.ga.gov/members/house/5029)***House 62 (D)* [Georgia General Assembly: committees & bills](https://www.legis.ga.gov/)District lines cut through cities; confirm your own members in the official lookup. Source: the state legislature’s member pages linked above.Project Tracker ## Data center projects near Atlanta Projects documented by public records or company announcements. Status reflects the cited source on the date shown, not a HERE prediction. ProjectWhereDeveloper / operatorScaleStatusRecord**Project Sail** Board of Commissioners rezoned the land to industrial April 7, 2026. Residents have discussed legal action.Coweta County (near Newnan), GAPrologis900 MW; 832 acres; nine buildingsRezoning approved 3-2 as of Apr. 10, 2026[Commission vote record & coverage](https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/prologis-900mw-project-sail-gets-the-go-ahead-in-coweta-county-georgia/)**Liberty Road campus (East Village Dothan LLC)** Commissioners denied the rezoning in July 2026 after the planning commission recommended denial.Douglas County (near Villa Rica), GAEdgeConneX-linked affiliate4.4M sq ft; about 700 acresRezoning denied 4-1 as of July 8, 2026[Commission vote record & coverage](https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/douglas-county-leaders-just-killed-massive-data-center-project)**Fayetteville data center moratorium** Council paused annexation, rezoning, variance and conceptual site plans for data centers on Jan. 29, 2026.Fayetteville (Fayette County), GACity of Fayetteville90-day pauseMoratorium adopted as of Jan. 29, 2026[City council action minutes](https://www.fayetteville-ga.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4112/1-29-26---Work-Session-Action-Minutes)Incentives & Rules ## Tax programs & statutes Sales & use tax ### High-technology data center equipment exemption Georgia exempts qualifying equipment used in a high-technology data center from sales and use tax, subject to minimum investment and new quality job requirements; applications go through the Georgia Tax Center. [Official page](https://dor.georgia.gov/high-technology-data-center-equipment-exemption)Latest ## Data center news from HERE Atlanta https://www.hereatlanta.com/2026/10/17/georgia-data-center-tax-breaks-school-costs/Oct 17, 2026[Data Center Tax Breaks Could Cost Georgia Schools Hundreds](https://www.hereatlanta.com/2026/10/17/georgia-data-center-tax-breaks-school-costs/)ATLANTA, Ga. — A new watchdog analysis says Georgia schools are losing hundreds of millions of dollars this year because of sales-tax exemptions that…https://www.hereatlanta.com/2026/11/11/georgia-psc-democratic-majority-power-bills/Nov 11, 2026[Democrats Win Control of Georgia Utility Regulator](https://www.hereatlanta.com/2026/11/11/georgia-psc-democratic-majority-power-bills/)ATLANTA, Ga. — The board that sets Georgia Power's rates will have a Democratic majority in January for the first time in 30 years,…https://www.hereatlanta.com/2026/11/09/bottoms-medicaid-expansion-top-priority-georgia/Nov 9, 2026[Bottoms Puts Medicaid Expansion Atop Her Agenda for Georgia](https://www.hereatlanta.com/2026/11/09/bottoms-medicaid-expansion-top-priority-georgia/)ATLANTA, Ga. — Full Medicaid expansion will lead the agenda when Keisha Lance Bottoms takes over as Georgia governor in January, and the Democrat…https://www.hereatlanta.com/2026/11/09/democrats-georgia-psc-majority-january-power-bills/Nov 9, 2026[Democrats Will Hold Georgia PSC Majority Starting in January](https://www.hereatlanta.com/2026/11/09/democrats-georgia-psc-majority-january-power-bills/)ATLANTA, Ga. — Georgia Power customers will see a new balance of power at the agency that sets their electric rates when Democrats take…https://www.hereatlanta.com/2026/11/07/democratic-psc-majority-bills-southern-profits/Nov 7, 2026[Democratic PSC Majority Targets Bills After Utility Profits](https://www.hereatlanta.com/2026/11/07/democratic-psc-majority-bills-southern-profits/)ATLANTA, Ga. — Georgia’s new Democratic majority on the Public Service Commission is preparing to put power bills and data-center costs under sharper review…https://www.hereatlanta.com/2026/11/05/amish-shah-claims-win-over-jay-feely-arizona-house-race/Nov 5, 2026[Amish Shah Claims Win Over Jay Feely in Arizona House Race](https://www.hereatlanta.com/2026/11/05/amish-shah-claims-win-over-jay-feely-arizona-house-race/)PHOENIX, Ariz. — Amish Shah, the Democrat, has claimed the win against Republican Jay Feely in Arizona's 1st Congressional District, a Scottsdale-area seat that…For developers, utilities & data center companies ## Tell your story HERE Residents, council members and commissioners near Atlanta are deciding what a data center means for their power bills, water and land. HERE Atlanta covers those decisions every week. If you are building, powering or supplying a project in or near Atlanta, this is where the people who vote on it are reading. - Sponsored features and press releases published on HERE Atlanta - Interviews and community explainers about your project - Reach a local audience in the neighboring HERE cities too [Advertise with HERE City](https://www.herecity.com/advertise/)[Send a message to our team](#data-center-brief) Business inquiries are handled by HERE City Marketing. HERE Atlanta · Politics of Data BriefGet the data center white paper for Atlanta A plain-language briefing on who decides, what the power contracts mean for your bill, and which communities near Atlanta are next. Leave your email and HERE Atlanta will send it as soon as it is published. Building data centers, or organizing around them? Use the same form to get more information or to get your message out to Atlanta readers. Company website I am a residentLocal official or staffDeveloper or real estateUtility or energyBusiness ownerMediaOtherSend me the white paperHelp me get my message outBoth Email me the white paper and occasional HERE Atlanta updates on this issue. Unsubscribe anytime.Get the white paper / Get in touchNo spam. Industry, utility, and business inquiries go to our advertising team; everyone else joins the HERE Atlanta newsletter list.Questions & Answers ## Data centers near Atlanta: FAQ ### Who approves a data center near Atlanta? Land use is decided locally: the planning or zoning body reviews rezonings and site plans, and the elected council or county commission votes on incentives and agreements. Power service is arranged with the local utility, and Georgia Public Service Commission regulates that utility. Water and air permits come from state environmental agencies. ### Who sits on the Georgia Public Service Commission? Jason Shaw (Chairman, District 1), Lauren "Bubba" McDonald (Vice Chairman), Peter Hubbard (Commissioner), Alicia M. Johnson (Commissioner), Stan Wise (Commissioner). Source: https://psc.ga.gov/about-the-psc/commissioners/. ### What tax incentives exist for data centers in Georgia? High-technology data center equipment exemption: Georgia exempts qualifying equipment used in a high-technology data center from sales and use tax, subject to minimum investment and new quality job requirements; applications go through the Georgia Tax Center. ### How can I weigh in on a data center near Atlanta? Attend the planning and council or commission meetings listed above, submit written comments before the vote, and contact your elected members. For power-contract cases, Georgia Public Service Commission takes public comment on open dockets. Sources & Method ## How this page is built Every name on this page is taken from the official government page linked beside it. Anything we could not verify is left out. Last verified 2026-11-12; next check 2026-12-12. Confirm contact details with the agency before relying on them. - [Georgia PSC: Meet the Commission](https://psc.ga.gov/about-the-psc/commissioners/) - [Georgia DOR: data center equipment exemption](https://dor.georgia.gov/high-technology-data-center-equipment-exemption) - [City planning & zoning (official city website) (official page)](https://www.atlantaga.gov) - [City of Atlanta: official website](https://www.atlantaga.gov) - [HERE Atlanta city-government directory (council, county, legislators)](https://www.hereatlanta.com/city-government/) - [Project record: Project Sail](https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/prologis-900mw-project-sail-gets-the-go-ahead-in-coweta-county-georgia/) - [Project record: Liberty Road campus (East Village Dothan LLC)](https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/douglas-county-leaders-just-killed-massive-data-center-project) - [Project record: Fayetteville data center moratorium](https://www.fayetteville-ga.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4112/1-29-26---Work-Session-Action-Minutes) **Not yet verified:** planning commission page and meeting schedule not located on the city site; local economic development agency contacts; state energy-committee roster; planning commission members. 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