Regarding Data Centers in the Home City & County: Thoughts by MBM & a Communique from Newton BOC Rep LeAnne Long

 Hello, friends. 

So yet another proposed data center now being considered here in the home county, those water & power sucking scourges, and now the home city of Covington is being brought in to mix as well. 

What follows is my response to a FB post by the right honorable & totally badass BOC 5 Rep of Newton Co, GA - LeAnne Long - followed by an additional comment of mine & then followed by her original post. 

The Chair of the NC Water Authority has already said we can’t take on anymore of these.

Concerns about power capacity as well.

Will definitely be reaching out to my representation on the City of Covington Council on this.

— ENOUGH IS ENOUGH —

This isn’t “NIMBY.” This is self-preservation!

I’m at the point where I’m ready for social media & AI to disappear. Those two things are the reason why we’re seeing this scourge.

Thanks for all you’re doing, LeAnne Long!

For the Home City & County!

- MBM

### My additional comment:

Also,

New York Times :

The situation has become so dire that Newton County is on track to be in a water deficit by 2030, according to a report last year.

“What the data centers don’t understand is that they’re taking up the community wealth,” he said. “We just don’t have the water.” ~ Mike Hopkins, NCWSA

(H/T Tonya Be) 

*******

LeAnne's original post: 

OKAY- District 5 ***

The Newton County Board of Commissioners received a required notice letter from the City of Covington stating that a landowner has applied to be annexed into the City of Covington's limits for a Massive Data Center. 600 ELKS CLUB RD -

The number of requests for data centers without proper planning and understanding of the community's impact is ridiculous! I am very concerned - while developers talk about potential tax revenue, those numbers don't show the big picture. The process lacks transparency, and communities aren't seeing the actual outcome for residents, which still remains unknown.

Social Circle (in Newton Co.) is attempting to annex and zone TWO large centers in Newton Co., ONE is being built now in Covington, Portdale approved ONE, and now another ONE OFF ELKS Club RD-

THIS IS INSANE! LET the City of Covington Council know your thoughts to VOTE NO!!

LeAnne! 

Here is part of the notice, as required by law

(This doesn't imply the City is in favor or not).

Please be advised that the City of Covington, GA, by the authority vested in the Mayor and Council, by Article 2 of Chapter 36, Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, has received an application to annex property hereinafter described. This letter has been sent to you by certified mail, return receipt requested, upon acceptance of an application for annexation by the City of Covington, GA, in accordance with O.C.G.A. § 36-36-

6 and O.C.G.A. § 36-36-,9 and after receipt of the application for zoning pursuant to O.C.G.A. §36-36-111. The property owner's application is attached hereto as Exhibit "B."

The property owners have requested the zoning of Light Industrial (M-1) for the following properties:

600 Elks Club Rd and Elks Club Rd, (TMP#s 0100 003, 0100 003В 0100 009) 11,520 SQFT AND 18 BUILDINGS.

GIVE ME YOUR THOUGHTS -LeAnne

### Best, MBM