AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Augusta neighbors have organized to express concerns about a data center that’s going up next door.

The group will address the Augusta Commission on Tuesday about the data center that’s planned next to the Haynes Station subdivision.

The east edge of the site is perched on a hill behind homes on Goodale Drive, and the west side would stretch to the Captain’s Corner subdivision.

The Haynes Station Concerned Residents Committee said neighbors will attend the Augusta Commission meeting shortly after 2 p.m. Tuesday.

The group said it was formed to “better understand the project and to seek clarity.”

The neighbors said they’re not opposed to development or data centers but question whether they ever had a meaningful chance to participate in the review process.

“The initial focus is on ensuring compliance with required notification and transparency standards,” the group said. “Once clarity on the notification process is established, residents intend to engage constructively on shared community concerns at a later date.”

The environmental quality section of the application with the state says the data center will likely affect water supply watershed, wetlands and floodplains.

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“Following clarification of the notification process, residents anticipate seeking additional information related to infrastructure capacity, water usage, noise and generator operations, traffic, emergency services, and cumulative impacts on surrounding residential communities in Haynes Station,” the group said.

Until recently, many residents didn’t even know about the plans for the site off Gordon Highway just east of Grovetown.

A smaller data center totaling 1.67 million square feet was announced years ago before much of Haynes Station neighborhood was even built.

Later, the original company exited the project and many people likely presumed it was dead.

However, in a move that slipped under the radar for many, a new company came in and filed an application with the Georgia Department of Community Affairs to expand the proposal.

It would now include six two-story buildings totaling more than 2.15 million square feet.

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

SEE THE SCHEMATICS:

The application states the facility is expected to consume 18,000 gallons of water per day. That’s about 900 showers.

It would also generate 9,200 gallons of wastewater a day, or about 5,750 flushes.

At least some preliminary work has apparently begun on the data center, with one older home being demolished and heavy equipment coming to the location that’s near a power substation.

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

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