Georgia lawmaker calls for ‘playbook’ to manage data center boom
By Amy Miller ( August 17, 2026, 23:41 GMT | Insight) -- State and local lawmakers need a clear framework for managing the rapid growth of AI-driven data centers, including rules for what developers should pay and what communities and regulators should demand, state Senator Chuck Hufstetler said at a tech policy conference in Colorado. He said a lack of transparency from developers and utilities is fueling public distrust, citing OpenAI’s planned $20 billion to $30 billion data center campus near Savannah and Georgia Power’s redacted contract with the company.State and local governments need a “playbook” to navigate one of the decade’s most consequential land-use and energy challenges: how to manage a wave of data center development driven by AI and cloud computing, a Georgia state senator said at a tech policy conference in Colorado.*...
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