Democratic governor candidate calls to end data center tax breaks in Macon stop
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jason Esteves called for an end to state tax breaks to data centers during a Friday stop in Macon.
Esteves, who previously served as a Georgia state senator representing parts of Atlanta, said the tax breaks have deprived the state of necessary tax money and prioritized wealthy companies and individuals.
“Hardworking people in the state can do a lot more with that money than Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos,” Esteves said.
Data centers have been a major issue for Georgians, as more and more of the large-scale developments move into small towns and rural areas across the state. Among those opposed to data centers, ending state tax breaks to the developments has been a major goal.
In Middle Georgia, proposals to rezone land for data centers have cropped up in multiple counties. In Monroe County, Google purchased a tract of land for $42 million. Land in Twiggs County was rezoned for a data center in September 2025 despite opposition from residents.
Esteves said he wants tax dollars to go back to Georgians
Esteves said he supports local governments’ decisions to allow data centers in their jurisdictions, but wants to end tax breaks to make sure Georgians see benefits.
“I’m proposing to take that money that is currently going to data centers and putting it in people’s pockets,” Esteves said.
Tax breaks for data centers were initially passed to attract the developments to the state, but are now being reassessed by citizens and lawmakers alike.
State legislators on both sides of the aisle supported a bill in 2024 that would’ve suspended sales tax exemptions for high-technology data center equipment, although it was vetoed by Gov. Brian Kemp that May. This session, a bill to repeal data center tax breaks cleared the Georgia Senate and is now working its way through the Georgia House of Representatives.
According to a February report from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Georgia forewent an estimated $2.5 billion in tax revenue this past fiscal year due to tax incentives for data centers.
Esteves said the state should repeal the tax incentives to use those dollars to support programs and spending that benefits Georgians.
“That’s a lot that someone here in Middle Georgia can do with that money versus it going to billionaires and big corporations,” Esteves said.
Improvements to the power grid, water system
In addition to repealing tax breaks, Esteves said he wants to hold data centers accountable for paying for electrical grid upgrades required to support development.
Data centers proliferating across Georgia have increased pressure on the state’s power grid and driven up costs for utilities.
In order to accommodate the influx of new data center developments, the Georgia Public Service Commission — a regulatory board in charge of overseeing power companies — approved a massive expansion of the state’s power grid in December 2025 in response to Georgia Power’s request for an additional 10,000 megawatts of new energy capacity.
The expansion was widely criticized over concerns that Georgia ratepayers may end up footing the bill for the expansion.
Esteves said during his Macon stop that he wants to make sure data centers are responsible for the costs associated with grid expansion, which are needed to supply the energy-hungry developments.
“We have to make sure that we’re holding data centers accountable to paying their fair share — utility costs, infrastructure costs, including water and power,” Esteves said.
Esteves is facing six other Democrats, including former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and former Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan, to become the party’s candidate for Georgia governor. The primary is scheduled for May 19, with Election Day taking place on Nov. 3.