There’s another data center whose plans are threatening farmers and their land, this time in Georgia. Coweta County residents say they are being threatened by Georgia Power with easements that will disrupt their homes and farming operations in order to place high-power lines to service a planned data center in neighboring Fayette County. Brianna Rice is one of them and told her county lawmakers it isn’t right.
“I’m being hounded by Georgia Power for an easement to build transmission lines through my property for the Fayette data center. I’m a local farmer, not an industrial developer. These 500 KV lines aren’t for me, they are for the data centers that the boards in surrounding counties continue to approve. I have mail from lawyers stacking up on my kitchen table wanting to take my case because they know my land is being targeted for eminent domain.”
Rice says she and other property owners were not given the opportunity to express their opinions when the center was being permitted.
“When the Fayette data center was first brought up, it should have been brought attention to all that would be impacted. I did not have a voice to speak my mind, and that feels like an infringement on my First Amendment rights. These easements are permanent. They affect my ability to graze my cattle, they lower my property value, and they destroy the rural character of this county forever.”
Ansley Brown has been leading efforts for the past year to stop the easements from going through. She says and others feel their rights are being ignored.
“Not only does Georgia Power not care about our American farmers, they also don’t care about our American mothers. This is happening to my mother. This is happening to Cynthia. And on to the point of the easement being only 12 feet from her house, I hope you guys realize that means when she is sleeping in her bedroom, Georgia Power can pull a truck 12 feet from that window and be right there.”
In a statement, Georgia Power said there are 20 to 30 homes it expects to demolish as part of the project.