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THOMSON, Ga. – At a recent public hearing in McDuffie County, the Commissioners delved into discussions surrounding Project Azalea, an ambitious plan for a sprawling data center complex that would span approximately 200 acres.
Cameron Grogan, the proprietor of Williams Brothers’ Development, expressed satisfaction with the proceedings. “We didn’t encounter any new concerns,” Grogan remarked. “It was reassuring to see that all the questions from the community were addressed. We’ve maintained transparency throughout, alongside the board and staff, leaving no stone unturned.”
The hearing provided a platform for residents to voice their opinions on the potential impact of the project. Gloria Thompson, a local resident, voiced her strong support. “I wholeheartedly back this data center and the benefits it promises to bring to McDuffie County,” she stated. “Beyond the tax revenue, it offers job opportunities and the chance to enhance our water and sewage systems without burdening property owners. Plus, it could ease the property tax load for many.”
However, not all residents shared the same enthusiasm. Kim Silva, who lives a short distance from the proposed site, expressed her reservations. “I’m not entirely convinced about this development,” Silva admitted. “Although they promise jobs, once the construction phase is over, only about 125 permanent positions will remain. My concern is where these employees will find housing.”
“I live a couple miles down the road from the where the proposed center is, and, I’m just not a big fan of it,” said Kim Silva, a McDuffie County resident. “Yeah, they’re going to bring jobs that these construction workers are going to end up leaving. And then he’s saying, you’re going to have 125 people staying to, you know, work at the data center, but where are these people going to live?”
Silva added, “The health effects that it’s going to cause, the environmental issues, they’re putting solar panels there. The solar panels aren’t recyclable. They leach chemicals into the ground. The noise pollution. What’s going to happen to this big data center when you don’t really need it? And I mean, they need to bring other things that are really going to benefit the county.”
The commission voted 3 to 1 to approve zoning for the project based on the conditions they gave the developer, including sound barriers and types of generators used on site.
Photojournalist credit: Avery Van Dusen