I have no dog in the fight for the data center in Appling. I live in Harlem and don’t really care either way.
I have spent the better part of the last 2 decades working with data centers, literally around the world. I can tell you the impact they have on the local environment and quality of life of nearby residents is negligible at worst and generally non-existent at best.
That said I have a real problem with the recent Board of Commissioners open letter to the residents of Columbia County.
Here is my open letter in response:
Columbia County’s Data Center Decision Appears Already Made
After reviewing the recent statement from the Columbia County Board of Commissioners regarding the proposed White Oak Technology Park data center, it’s difficult to escape the conclusion that the Board has already decided to move forward with the project.
Despite repeated claims that “no final decision has been made,” the tone and substance of their letter tell a different story.
1. Defensive, Not Deliberative
Rather than maintaining an open or investigative stance, the Board’s letter immediately goes on the defensive—accusing citizen groups of spreading “inaccuracies” and “falsehoods.”
That type of language is not typical of a government body still evaluating a proposal. It is the tone of an entity defending a course of action already chosen.2. Legal Justification Over Public Discussion
Much of the statement focuses on compliance with Georgia law, the use of non-disclosure agreements, and the legality of executive sessions.
When leaders emphasize how they acted legally instead of why the project is right for the community, it suggests that the focus has shifted from decision-making to legal defense and procedural validation.
3. Evidence of Commitment
The letter itself admits that the Columbia County Development Authority has already “secured financing and agreements to position the land for development.”
Those are not preliminary steps—they are the essential foundation of a project already in motion. Calling it a “planning phase” at that point is largely a matter of optics.
4. Advocacy for the Project
Throughout the letter, the Board promotes the supposed benefits of data centers: job creation, tax revenue, and minimal environmental impact.
If the Board were genuinely undecided, both pros and cons would be presented. Instead, the language reads like a sales pitch, not an impartial evaluation.
5. Public Input in Form Only
The statement promises that public input “will continue to be sought,” but that phrase implies procedure, not influence.
Citizens may be allowed to speak, but the decisions appear to have already been made behind closed doors under the cover of confidentiality agreements and executive sessions.
6. Framing and Finality
The closing sections of the letter—inviting citizens to trust “facts” provided by the county and commending itself as “one of the best-run counties in the nation”—sound more like a public-relations statement than an invitation to collaborate on policy.
Conclusion
While the Board insists the project is not a “done deal,” their own words suggest otherwise.
The pattern of defensive rhetoric, legal positioning, and promotional language indicates that the decision to bring the data center to Columbia County has already been made.
What remains are the legal and procedural steps to formalize it, with public hearings serving more as formalities than opportunities for genuine influence. Residents deserve transparency—not just compliance with the letter of the law, but respect for the spirit of open government.
Feel free to email the entire Board of Commissioners if you would like: commissioners@columbiacountyga.gov