Georgia has 119 more data centers planned
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Clearview, August 2026; Jim Sergent/Axios
Georgia is expected to have roughly 60 large data centers by the end of 2026, with nearly twice as many planned for the years ahead.
Why it matters: The 119 data centers planned for later years would increase Georgia's 3,906 MW capacity by 287%, according to records analyzed by market intelligence company Cleanview.
State of play: Data centers face increasing local resistance across Georgia over concerns about water and energy use and community impacts as the midterm elections draw near.
- Residents in Effingham County have organized to oppose a proposed incentives deal with OpenAI to build a $20 billion data center.
Yes, but: Data center developers are pushing back, too. Shadowbox Studios, a film production facility that wants to develop a data center on property once slated for a studio expansion, is suing DeKalb County over its moratorium on new developments.
Zoom in: The issue has become a flashpoint in the governor's race, with Democratic gubernatorial candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms calling for a statewide pause on new developments.
- Republican nominee Rick Jackson says local communities should have the final say on whether projects are built.
By the numbers: Running at two-thirds capacity — typical for a data center — the average new data center uses enough energy to power 54,000 homes, according to Cleanview.
The fine print: Cleanview only counts individual buildings as data centers.
Reality check: It's unlikely the more than 3,000 data centers on Cleanview's national list will come to fruition.
- Forty-five projects on Cleanview's complete list have been canceled. About 450 don't have a completion date.
What's next: On average, the next generation of data centers in the U.S. is on track to consume 2.5 times more power than those opening in 2026.