AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Plans for an Augusta data center − announced years ago and possibly forgotten by many − have grown quite a bit.

New plans call for the data center to occupy as much space as two Augusta Malls − all wedged between the Hayne’s Station and Captain’s Corner subdivisions off Gordon Highway in west Augusta.

And at least some preliminary work has apparently begun, with one older home being demolished and heavy equipment moving dirt near the location in recent weeks.

Word of the data center may come as a surprise to residents of adjacent neighborhoods that hadn’t even been built when the initial plans were announced.

Those plans were unveiled in 2022, when T5 Data Centers said it would build a 140-acre campus adjacent to Fort Gordon and the Army’s Cyber Command headquarters.

That initial plan was for four buildings totaling 1.67 million square feet.

In the intervening years, most people probably forgot about it.

A sign along Gordon Highway had announced the center, but it fell into disrepair and was partially destroyed by Hurricane Helene.

That didn’t mean the plan vanished, though.

In fact, flying under the radar of many people, T5 faded from the picture and a new developer took over the proposal.

In June 2024, a new company stepped in with grander plans. The company filed an application with the Georgia Department of Community Affairs to expand the proposal to six two-story buildings totaling 2.15 million square feet.

That company was Eagle South LLC, although schematics filed with the city list Cyber Development LLC and say the plans were prepared for QTS Data Centers of Duluth, Ga.

For comparison, Augusta Mall has 1.1 million square feet of store space.

The city staff suggested that buildings be no taller than 68 feet and that landscaping be enhanced along Gordon Highway, among other requirements, but otherwise recommended approval of the so-called Project Eisenhower.

Darren Meadows with the Hull Barrett Law Firm went before the Augusta Planning Commission on June 3, 2024, to outline the proposal on behalf of Eagle South.

“Our project contemplates six buildings approximately 239,000 square feet each, which represents an initial development investment of up to $2 billion. Beyond that, there will be millions of dollars intended for investment in computer systems and other personal property to be located on this property,” he said.

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He said the company expected more than 600 short-term construction jobs and 160-200 long-term jobs from data center operations, with an average salary of $70,000.

Critics of data centers have complained about a low long-term employment gain, although many jobs are generated through construction.

In fact, Augusta planning commissioners questioned Eagle South’s job claims, noting that T5 had expected only 20-30 employees total. But Eagle South said it had different estimates.

Planning commissioners posed several questions about space between the property and neighbors, and were told there would be at least a 50-foot buffer − although some officials were pushing for more.

A schematic filed with the city shows the east end of the facility directly behind homes on Goodale Drive in Hayne’s Station.

The western side would back up to homes in the Captain’s Corner neighborhood, in some spots coming between them and Gordon Highway.

SEE THE SCHEMATICS:

The environmental quality section of the application says the facility is likely to affect water supply watershed, wetlands and floodplains.

The application states the facility is expected to consume 18,000 gallons of water per day. That’s about 900 showers, if you consider that the average 10-minute shower uses 20 gallons.

The application says there’s sufficient supply from Augusta Utilities.

The facility would generate 9,200 gallons of wastewater per day, according to the application. That’s about 5,750 flushes, following the standard of 1.6 gallons per flush for new toilets.

Changing concerns about data centers

Across the country, controversy has grown in the past year or so regarding data centers − whether justified or not.

While officials tout the tax revenues they bring in, neighbors sometimes complain about noise, odors, unsightliness, and concerns about higher electricity rates and consumption of water to cool the machines.

And critics say communities are sometimes kept in the dark about data center plans through non-disclosure agreements that veil details at first.

That doesn’t appear to have been the case with the Augusta data center.

And yet plans for the expansion went relatively unnoticed, with more headlines lately focusing on a data center planned in Appling, as well as successive plans for others in the same area.

When the Gordon Highway center was announced in 2022 on what was then an isolated stretch, it was a different time, with data centers relatively unknown around here.

But then hundreds of new homes started popping up on both sides of the site, with many buyers probably unaware of the plans.

Those residents will meet their new neighbor soon.

According to the application with the state, the center could be completed in the second quarter of 2026.

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