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Amazon’s $270 Million Georgia Data Center Purchase Sparks Environmental Opposition

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Amazon Data Center Sparks Environmental Opposition in Georgia

Amazon's $270 million Lamar County land purchase triggers organized community resistance over environmental impacts.

  • Amazon purchased 984.89 acres for $270 million
  • Sale finalized July 25, 2025 near Interstate 75
  • Local advocate Makalyn McGuire leads organized opposition
  • Data centers consume 300,000 to 5 million gallons daily
  • U.S. data centers used 130 terawatt-hours in 2022
  • Energy demand projected to triple by 2030
  • 17 fossil fuel plants delaying retirement for centers
  • Amazon expanding recycled water use to 120 locations

Amazon Data Services purchased 984.89 acres in Lamar County, Georgia, for $270 million to develop a data center, prompting local residents to organize opposition over concerns about environmental impact, water consumption, and ecosystem disruption [1][2][3]. The land, acquired from High Falls 75 LLC on July 25, 2025, sits along Interstate 75 near Exit 198 and was pre-zoned for industrial use following public hearings earlier in 2025 [4][5]. Local advocate Makalyn McGuire is leading community resistance through public forums, citing health issues documented in other communities near data center facilities [1][2]. Data centers consume substantial energy and water resources, with facilities using between 300,000 to 5 million gallons of water daily, forcing some utilities to delay fossil fuel plant retirements or construct new gas-powered facilities to meet demand [6][7][8].

Amazon Confirms Data Center Plans Following Land Purchase

Amazon spokesperson Simone Griffin confirmed in August 2025 that the company is “performing due diligence in exploring data center locations” on the Lamar County property [3]. The 984.89-acre tract was purchased from Legacy 75 Trade Center developers for approximately $274,111 per acre, representing the largest real estate transaction in Lamar County history [4][5]. The site includes access to heavy electrical transmission lines necessary for data center operations [3].

Property Restrictions and Zoning Requirements

Restrictive covenants established during earlier rezoning limit individual buildings to a maximum of 125,000 square feet, with additional protections for land near High Falls Lake [3][5]. Lamar County Commission Chairman Ryran Traylor stated that Amazon must present detailed development plans during pre-construction meetings with county officials [4].

Local Opposition and Environmental Concerns

Barnesville resident Makalyn McGuire expressed concerns about long-term consequences, asking “Who is here left to deal with the consequences of what they have built?” when corporations eventually leave [1][2]. She specifically cited potential impacts on wildlife at nearby High Falls State Park and concerns about pollution affecting the local ecosystem [2]. Chairman Traylor acknowledged community concerns, stating the county is “committed to ensuring that this new project brings the minimal possible disruption to neighboring areas” [4].

Similar data center projects have faced organized resistance in other communities, including Memphis neighborhoods where residents report health issues linked to nearby facilities [1]. The opposition reflects growing tensions between corporate infrastructure expansion and community welfare considerations [1][2].

Data Center Environmental Impact

Data centers present substantial environmental challenges that concern Lamar County residents:

  • Water consumption ranging from 300,000 gallons daily for smaller facilities to 5 million gallons per day for large operations [6]
  • Annual electricity use of 130 terawatt-hours across all U.S. data centers in 2022, equivalent to powering 12 million homes [6]
  • Projected tripling of energy demand by 2030 as AI applications expand [6][7]
  • At least 17 fossil fuel power plants nationwide delaying retirement to serve data center demand [8]
  • New gas-powered plant construction, with utilities like Dominion Energy planning $4.5 billion facilities [6][8]
  • Residential customers paying disproportionate infrastructure costs compared to commercial data center clients [6]

Amazon Web Services announced plans in June 2025 to expand recycled water use to 120 U.S. data center locations by 2030, targeting conservation of 530 million gallons of drinking water annually [9][10]. The company currently uses recycled water at 24 global sites, with expansion planned for Georgia, Mississippi, Virginia, and California [9][10].

McGuire encouraged residents to “look for those public hearings, the commissioner’s public hearings, and come out, support” to protect local environmental resources [2]. The Lamar County project remains in pre-development stages, with formal construction plans pending county review [4][5].

Alex Chen

Alex Chen

Technology & Innovation Reporter

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Tech writer specializing in emerging technologies and AI tools, delivering trusted insights from San Francisco.

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Nodin Laramie

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Dr. Nodin Laramie is a Portland, Maine CFP who erased $80k debt then guided a bank’s budget clinics. For 15 years he’s coached 1,200 families, turning behavior science into simple Maine‑savvy tips that stretch paychecks and build steady savings.

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Howayda Sayed

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Howayda Sayed is the Managing Editor of the Arabic, English, and multilingual sections at Faharas. She leads editorial supervision, review, and quality assurance, ensuring accuracy, transparency, and adherence to translation and editorial standards. With 5 years of translation experience and a background in journalism, she holds a Bachelor of Laws and has studied public and private law in Arabic, English, and French.

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Editorial Timeline

Revisions
— by Nodin Laramie
  1. Initial publication. Rewrote opening paragraph as BLUF format.
  2. Added verified data from October 8-12, 2025 sources.
  3. Updated all statistics with current figures.
  4. Included Amazon spokesperson confirmation from August 2025.
  5. Added property transaction details with specific acreage and pricing.
  6. Expanded environmental impact section with documented data.
  7. Created six-point bulleted list of environmental challenges.
  8. Added Lamar County Commission Chairman statements.
  9. Included recycled water initiative information from June 2025.
  10. Integrated 10 authoritative citations throughout article.
  11. Created three comprehensive FAQ entries.
  12. Restructured article with proper HTML heading hierarchy.

Correction Record

Accountability
— by Nodin Laramie
  1. Corrected property sale date from "early 2025" to "July 25, 2025" per county records.
  2. Updated land area from "approximately 1,000 acres" to "984.89 acres" as verified by transaction documents.
  3. Price originally noted as "about $300 million," now fixed at "$270 million" based on current official statements.
  4. Clarified seller from "local development group" to "High Falls 75 LLC" per closing records.
  5. Replaced vague reference to "public concerns" with specific community leader (Makalyn McGuire) and cited organized forums.
  6. Revised data center water usage figures to "300,000–5 million gallons daily" from unverified prior estimates.
  7. Updated U.S. data center energy use to "130 terawatt-hours in 2022" in place of older or projected values.
  8. Added Amazon's confirmation and quoted Simone Griffin directly instead of previously attributed anonymous statements.
  9. Replaced approximate per-acre price with precise figure "$274,111 per acre" as documented.

FAQ

What is Amazon planning to build in Lamar County, Georgia?

Amazon Data Services purchased 984.89 acres in Lamar County for $270 million and confirmed in August 2025 that it is exploring data center locations on the property. The sale closed July 25, 2025, and represents the largest real estate transaction in county history.

Why are local residents opposing the data center project?

Residents led by Makalyn McGuire fear environmental damage to High Falls State Park ecosystems, concerns about pollution, and worry about long-term consequences when corporations leave. Similar data center projects have sparked health issues in nearby communities, including Memphis neighborhoods.

How much water do data centers consume daily?

Data centers consume between 300,000 gallons per day for smaller facilities to 5 million gallons daily for large operations. Amazon Web Services announced plans in June 2025 to expand recycled water use to 120 U.S. locations by 2030 to preserve 530 million gallons of drinking water annually.

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Table of Contents

Amazon Confirms Data Center Plans Following Land PurchaseProperty Restrictions and Zoning RequirementsLocal Opposition and Environmental ConcernsData Center Environmental Impact