WABE: Science for Georgia wants data center transparency

[neillh...@earthlink.net]

 

• Data Centers

Nonprofit advocates for transparency as data centers grow in Georgia

Closer Look Staff | WABE

March 16th, 2026

 

Color-coordinated wires feeding in and out of computer components at the Coda data center in Midtown Atlanta. (Matthew Pearson/ WABE)

A Georgia-based nonprofit is hoping to locate every data center in the state as part of an ongoing transparency campaign about the environmental and social impacts of the centers.

 

A map created by Science for Georgia, a science advocacy nonprofit, conservatively estimates around 100 data centers in Georgia. But the exact number is difficult to pin down because the state government doesn’t maintain its own public database, which also makes it hard to track any economic impacts.

 

“We don’t have any idea how much tax revenue they’re bringing us right now,” said Dr. Amy Sharma, executive director of Science for Georgia.

Sponsor

Science for Georgia is also monitoring a state senate bill to repeal tax breaks for data centers, but Sharma says the bill doesn’t go far enough to protect consumers from picking up the growing energy costs of the centers.

Sharma joined Monday’s edition of “Closer Look” to share her organization’s ongoing research into the impact of data centers.