Appling Residents Protest Secretive Data Center Plans Amid Rapid Expansion Fears
Half of the site could be sold to Trammell Crow Development for $60 million, but many locals say they weren’t informed about the plans.
A $30 million bank loan will fund the purchase of 1,600 acres in Appling, Georgia, for a new data center. Half of the site could be sold to Trammell Crow Development for $60 million, but many locals say they weren't informed about the plans.
Word of the White Oak Park Data Center reached Appling residents in August 2025. The board had signed off on First State Bank's loan back in December 2024. The funds target the third stage of White Oak Business Park's growth.
"Initially, I was concerned, but not too concerned, because I was familiar with the Vision 2035 Comprehensive Plan for Columbia County," said Alan Wyatt, according to The Augusta Chronicle. "But as we investigated it, we discovered it's the whole tract of land. This is 3 square miles of industrial complex. And that's when it just absolutely blew my mind."
The site would store vast amounts of data for AI and cloud systems. Augusta University's Dr. Randy Singer explains that these buildings house servers that run tools like Meta, Copilot, and ChatGPT.
After meeting commissioners in September, Wyatt shared their view that "this development can reduce property taxes for the residents."
Water use tops the list of local fears, with cooling needs for servers raising red flags. Stuart Hilsman at the authority stressed they'll use city water, not wells. "This protects local aquifers and ensures no impact on farms or homes that rely on well water," he said.
County leaders won't discuss the center. Their spokesperson, Cassidy Harris, stated they "will not be participating in interviews on this topic" but would share news when ready.
