Hogansville Residents Speak Out Against Data Centers

By TODD PIKE
On Tuesday, December 2, over one hundred concerned citizens attended the forum in the Royal Theater about the data center being discussed for Hogansville. Mayor Jake Ayers welcomed everyone and said most of the two-hour event would be reserved for citizens to make comments , but prior to that, there were two people to speak about what a data center is and some of the positive and negative impacts it could bring to this area. He also explained that much research was still needed before a decision could be made, in fact, Hogansville was in the very early stages of this research.
First to speak was Aaron Fortner of Canvas Planning, who is a consultant for Hogansville UDOs (Unified Development Ordinances) and several other projects over the last few years. He defined data centers as secure facilities that house a vast array of computer servers and networking equipment which hold all the internet information we use each day when on our phones and laptops. They store, and protect, digital systems that store personal files, business information, medical records and school and city government data. 
Fortner explained that on the plus side, data centers can provide increased revenue for cities through property taxes, licensing fees and what builders are willing to pay to have the centers installed, In some instances, the revenue they generate can exceed city service costs for a fiscal year. He said that once they are built, the centers generate very little traffic.
On the downside, they require a great deal more electrical power infrastructure and, at times, large amounts of water for cooling systems to keep the equipment from overheating. Since the grounds around the centers are well-lit, a bright glow at night would not be welcomed by nearby residents in the rural area of Hightower Road. There will also be inevitable noise and traffic while the center is being constructed. Rainwater runoff from the area would also have to be addressed. One of the major drawbacks for those living in the area would be decreased land values for their properties.
Fortner explained that the people who install data centers can put up buffers to conceal the lights and sound and pay for all infrastructure upgrades (for water runoff, sewer and water lines, power infrastructure, etc.), but the residents in attendance were skeptical, fearing their monthly bills will increase.
Greg Ashworth, a water and sewer engineer, spoke about the upgrades that would be needed and how feasible they are. He said to conserve water, some centers cool by air most months of the year and only use water cooling systems when necessary.
When it was time for citizens to speak, Ayers explained ,for the sake of time, he and the city council would not answer questions, but would record any questions and try to answer them when they learned more about the centers. This, not surprisingly, was not well received. Citizens had a long list or reasons not to allow the center, from increased power and water bills to noise affecting people and animals to environmental hazards to decreased land values in the area. So many residents haven’t been this up-in-arms about a topic in Hogansville in many years. Hopefully, the right decision for the city and her residents will be made. Anyone wanting to express their opinion about the proposed data center can email the city at feedback@cityofhogansville.org.