Monroe County commissioners unanimously rejected a controversial data center proposal Tuesday night, ending months of heated public debate while moving forward with three other billion-dollar development projects.
The Bolingbroke Technology Campus, a proposed 900-acre data center development, faced fierce opposition from residents who packed commission meetings for weeks. Commissioners listened to community concerns before delivering the decisive vote.
"It was obvious with the will of the people what the will of Bolingbroke was and they didn't want that data center and they were emotional about it and we listened to them," Commissioner Eddie Rowland said.
The denial marks the end of a contentious chapter for the rural county, but commissioners have approved three other major projects totaling more than $3 billion in investment along the Interstate 75 corridor.
Approved projects generate major revenue
The Rumble Road Data Center campus, developed by Cloverleaf Infrastructure, represents a $1.2 billion investment spanning up to 1,200 acres. The project includes 12 buildings totaling 4.2 million square feet, with construction planned through 2038, according to state records.
A Buc-ee's travel center will bring 200 full-time jobs with benefits to the I-75 and Rumble Road area. The 74,000-square-foot store with 120 fueling stations received county approval in December 2024.
Oglethorpe Power's $2 billion natural gas plant will feature two units generating 1,200 megawatts of power. The project includes 25 permanent jobs and 1,200 temporary construction positions, according to the company.
Rowland estimates the three approved projects will generate between $75 million and $80 million annually in tax revenue for the county.
"I've heard up to 60 million a year in tax revenue for data centers. I've heard up to $3 million per 1% of sales tax for Buc-ee's," Rowland said. "I've heard up to $2.5 million a year in sales and property tax for Oglethorpe."
Construction timeline and infrastructure
County officials say they expect significant construction activity beginning in 2027, when multiple projects will operate simultaneously. Each development could employ approximately 1,000 construction workers, according to Rowland.
"Looking at 2027, there's gonna be a lot of traffic because there's gonna be a lot of construction traffic probably each of those are gonna employ 1000 construction workers each," Rowland said.
The county has begun infrastructure improvements including railroad crossing upgrades at Rumble Road and Highway 41, repaving Old Macon Road, and additional Rumble Road enhancements in coordination with the Georgia Department of Transportation.
Future development policies on the table
Following the Bolingbroke denial, commissioners discussed implementing a temporary moratorium on data center proposals, similar to actions taken by DeKalb County and other Georgia jurisdictions.
"I would be willing to put a moratorium on an individual project as long as, at the same time we put that moratorium up, we put an end date to that moratorium," Rowland said.
Rowland emphasized the need for balanced community development that serves people's needs.
"If that money buys an ambulance to send to your house if you're sick or sends a deputy to your house because you're scared or gives you a hospital to go to if you need care or gives you a recreation department to go exercise, then we've done our job," Rowland said.
Property owner Otis Ingram has 30 days to appeal the Bolingbroke data center denial. Commissioners plan to meet again in September and may discuss the proposed data center moratorium.
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