Although no data center projects have been proposed in Henry County, members of the Board of Supervisors say they want clear regulations in place before any applications are submitted.
The board is expected to consider zoning ordinance amendments addressing data centers and battery energy storage systems at its July 28 meeting. Supervisors said the proposed changes are intended to establish standards before the county is asked to consider a project.
Board Chairman Jim Adams, of the Blackberry District, said he has not formed an opinion on data centers.
“I think there’s a lot of information out there in regard to them, there’s a lot of misinformation. There’s a lot, I think that anyone needs to consider in regard to the net effects of something,” he said.
Adams said he believes large-scale projects such as data centers and solar farms require careful scrutiny before receiving approval.
“Most of the solar farm situations, they’re like 30-year leases. That’s a generation. I think that, just like with solar farms, part of it is people that are trying to place those seeking weaknesses in ordinances, and we’re trying to keep ourselves from being a weak link to allow something without fully vetting the detriments of it,” Adams said.
Vice Chairman Travis Pruitt, who represents the Ridgeway District, said he is not opposed to data centers but believes the county needs regulations before any proposals are considered.
“Right now, we have absolutely nothing, so it would really resort back to the situations from the solar panels and the early days that there was no zoning ordinances, there was no sound or noise pieces put to that. I think right now, it’s important that we’re deciding whether to have rules, not whether to approve a project,” he said.
Pruitt said the board must do its due diligence as artificial intelligence (AI) continues to drive demand for data centers.
“Obviously AI and what data centers provide is the way that things are going, so we have to be able to provide those resources because obviously if I get on Google and I do (a search for) something, I want it to give that information back to me,” he said.
He added that water consumption is one of the county’s biggest concerns, particularly during drought conditions.
“We just have to get all of that into written rules,” he said.
Horsepasture District Supervisor Debra Buchanan said both the board and the public need more information before reaching conclusions.
“We are beginning to learn more about data centers, but the public only knows probably what other people are telling them. We need more facts, we need more information, we need more knowledge about what data centers do, we need to know how to fix our water source now,” Buchanan said.
She noted that large manufacturers such as DuPont once used significant amounts of water as well.
“I just think we need more information,” she said.
Iriswood District Supervisor Garrett Dillard said he is still researching the issue.
“Like when solar farms came out, you can hear the good and you hear the bad. Still doing my research so I can personally have my opinion,” he said.
Dillard said he has heard concerns about water use and electricity demand, along with potential economic benefits.
“But then you also hear about the good when it comes to economics. Of course, we don’t ever want to put economics in front of people’s well-being, so I’m doing my research,” he said.
While she knows there’s tremendous opposition to data centers, Reed Creek District Supervisor Pam Cobler said she also is withholding judgment until she has more information.
“Like with the solar farms, I had already done a tremendous amount of research on it myself, listening and looking at everything, before I decided that I would not support a solar farm. So I don’t feel like I have enough information yet. I am doing the research, I am speaking with other municipalities, and I don’t feel like I have enough information to decide yet,” Cobler said.
As of July 13, she said she was unaware of any discussions about bringing a data center to Henry County.
Collinsville District Supervisor Chris Lawless said he is not a supporter of data centers and that the board has no plans to recruit one.
However, he said local governments face increasing financial pressures.
“Volunteers are hard to come by nowadays, so unfortunately you have to have more public safety officials, and everybody needs an ambulance and firefighters and needs EMS to get to the hospital and stuff, so we’re having to fund certain things like that. People have to start thinking we have to figure out ways to make money.
“That’s one thing that people say, ‘Well, we don’t want a data center.’ All right, well do you want a casino? ‘No, we really don’t want a casino either.’ Well, we have to find a way to make these taxes come down, and that’s the reason why the people are entertaining it,” Lawless said.
