Jones County unanimously passes data center text amendment despite outcry

The Jones County Board of Commissioners unanimously passed a text amendment Friday night allowing data centers in industrial zones, despite backlash from local residents.

A similar text amendment was approved in September, but was rescinded just a few weeks later over concerns that it wasn’t properly passed into law.

Jones County had sessions throughout December to workshop the language before passing the final version Friday.

Commissioners argue that the amendment, which comes with conditions, would give the county more control over data centers. Residents, however, expressed concerns that a data center would pose threats to the environment and disrupt Jones County’s rural character.

What does the amendment say?

The amendment allows data centers as a conditional use in M-2 districts, which are industrial zones. A conditional use means that a data center must get approval from the county before being constructed.

The amendment also sets requirements around noise, buffers, cooling systems and environmental information.

Data centers must keep noise under 55 decibels during the day, and 45 decibels at night. They must also have a 200-foot setback from all surrounding property lines and a 100-foot buffer. Lights must be configured to keep them from illuminating nearby properties, and data centers must use a closed-loop cooling system, according to county documents.

Additionally, as part of the approval process, developers must submit an environmental impact study with information on impacts to air quality, water resources, energy generation, noise, light, traffic, natural resources and archaeological or cultural resources.

Ken Jarrard, an attorney with Atlanta-based Jarrard & Davis LLP who was hired to help the county draft the amendment, said during the meeting that the amendment would allow for officials to place further requirements upon data centers as they apply for conditional use permits.

Why did commissioners approve the amendment?

The commission argued that the amendment would set clear parameters for data centers, which they say could be an important industry for boosting tax revenue and economic growth.

Much of the evening’s discussion centered on the Griswoldville Industrial Park, which is operated by the Jones County Development Authority. The industrial park, which the county purchased about 20 years ago, was intended to bring industry and job opportunities to Jones County, but has remained largely empty.

The industrial park is one of the largest M-2 zones in the county, and commissioners said bringing a data center there could finally fulfill the park’s goal of bringing industry to the area.

“We have to make the right decision for Jones County, and it is making it a great place for the right company, the right fit for our community, to be here,” said District 4 Commissioner Daylon Martin.

Residents, however, say that a data center would be a bad fit for the area, and that the resources required to operate one wouldn’t be justified by the few jobs that would be created.

“What we are being asked to accept tonight is a major economic pivot for Jones County,” said Alex Lefholz, a Jones County resident who has organized with residents in opposition to the data center. “That is our economic strategy — job creation in the industrial park.”

According to the Jones County Comprehensive Plan, which was adopted in 2022, the county is primarily focused on attracting large-scale manufacturers, which the plan argues bring many high-paying jobs.

While the number of jobs created by data centers vary, investigations by media outlets estimate data centers create, on average, about 260 long-term jobs.