Our History
The People Have Spoken: No Hyperscale AI Data Centers in DeKalb County, Georgia!
How it began
In August 2025, we first became aware that a “Text Amendment” (a change/addition to the county zoning laws) was under consideration that would allow data centers to be built in DeKalb County, Georgia. The amendment was presented at a routine District 5 Community Council meeting for resident review. The DeKalb Planning Department recommended approval of the data center ordinance, but after raising questions, some residents became alarmed. Though we knew little about data centers at the time, the size of these developments and their likely proximity to residential neighborhoods in South DeKalb raised serious concerns. South and East DeKalb are strong, established communities of color, but have been inequitably burdened by industrial development bringing high levels of pollution. Over the years, these areas have not reached their full potential due to disinvestment in viable transit options, county services, and the kind of sustainable economic development that enhances communities. We deserve economic equity.
We also learned that one developer had submitted an application for a Special Land Use Permit to build a 2-million square-foot data center on a 96-acre site in Ellenwood, DeKalb County, in the midst of three residential neighborhoods. Later, it was exposed that two other developers (Blackhall and Shadowbox Studios) had expressed interest in building potentially larger data centers nearby. Immediately, we began to conduct extensive research from studies, experts, and other credible sources, which revealed the massive amounts of power and water usage required to run these enormous data center operations 24/7, as well as the negative impacts of mega data centers on communities. We also heard from everyday people in other Georgia counties, as well as nationwide, who are actually experiencing the impacts of constant noise, vibration, bright lights, heat, and pollutants on their health, well-being, and overall quality of life. We demand environmental justice.
Community Organizing
We compiled our research into a written report and PowerPoint slides that we attempted to present to the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners (BOC), but they refused to meet with us. So, we delivered the report and took to the streets to begin organizing the residents and collaborating with other organizations. We held multiple community education forums on data centers, rallies, and press conferences to let people know the dangers posed by these AI mega data centers and campuses. We spoke out during public comment, with facts, data, and real-life stories at every BOC meeting and zoning hearing in opposition to the proposed data center ordinance. In June 2025, an incumbent County Commissioner was unseated in the primary election because she didn’t listen to her constituents and refused to bring a vote against the proposed Ellenwood data center. We’re stronger together.
With each BOC zoning hearing more and more residents attended, into the overflow room, as we stood together and spoke out. As a result, the County Commissioners voted to defer (postpone) the final decision on the data center zoning ordinance in September, November, and December 2025, and again in January 2026, because of intense public pressure. On the morning of June 23, 2026, the BOC deferred the matter for a fifth time, but then later that afternoon, the Commissioners reversed their earlier decision and re-voted unanimously to kill the data center zoning ordinance altogether. In July, the Board denied the permit request for the proposed Ellenwood Data Center. Now, there is a moratorium on data center development in DeKalb County until March 30, 2027. Our Coalition continues to grow.
The DeKalb County Moratorium is now being challenged in the Superior Court by Shadowbox Studios, another developer that seeks to convert their movie studio expansion into a 5+ million square-foot hyperscale AI data center campus on a 155+ acre site. Shadowbox claims it has a “right to build.” The fight continues.
Instagram: instagram.com/dekalbcitizenscoalition
Website: dekalbcoalition.org
