2 data center projects in Unincorporated Clarke County
Who decides here: the Clarke County Board of Commissioners decides on zoning for land outside city and town limits.
In Unincorporated Clarke County
Old Elberton Road data center (FAE Clark LLC)
Athens-Clarke County (unified government), Clarke County
233 acres
🕒 Oct 7, 2025: Mayor and Commission unanimously voted against rezoning 233 acres from farm to industria…
Reported in the news, not confirmed yet
ProposedAthena Studios data center proposal
Athens-Clarke County (unified government), Clarke County
🕒 March 2026: Mayor and Commission extended the data center moratorium to June 5, 2026, as plans for a…
Reported in the news, not confirmed yet
Local votes and rules
⏸️ Pause on new data centers
Athens-Clarke County paused new data centers in December 2025 so it could write zoning rules. The pause was set to end March 6, 2026. In early March the commission extended it for three more months. Commissioners asked whether an outright ban is possible.
✋ Turned down
The Athens-Clarke County Mayor and Commission voted unanimously to deny rezoning 233 acres of farmland on Old Elberton Road from farm to industrial use. The plan was for a four-building, 2 million square foot data center. The planning commission had also recommended denial.
What you can do
- Get told first.
We'll email you if anything changes in Unincorporated Clarke County. - Go to county meetings.
Anyone can speak. Big projects usually need a public hearing. - Ask questions in writing.
Use our checklist.
🔔 Get told first
⚡ Your electric company
Depending on where you live in Unincorporated Clarke County: Georgia Power Co. (company) or Walton Electric Member Corp. (co-op (owned by its members)) or Jackson Electric Member Corp. (co-op (owned by its members)).
Big data centers need a lot of power. Who pays for new power lines depends on state rules. See the rules in Georgia.
🙋 Open tasks here
- Who was the end user?
- Who is the developer, and how big is the plan?
- What did Athens-Clarke's new data center rules say, and does this project meet them?