Project Azalea data center
Also called: Project Azelea
Project Azalea is a six-building, 400-megawatt data center planned on 200 acres near Randall Hunt Road. The county approved it 4-1 in March 2026. The state review says there is not enough power available yet and the site is in a rural 'Countryside' area.
Where things stand: McDuffie County Commission approved it 4-1 on March 17, 2026.
🕒 Latest update (March 17, 2026): McDuffie County Commission approved the project 4-1.
What we know
- 📍 WhereRandall Hunt Road near Thomson, Unincorporated McDuffie County, McDuffie County
- 🏢 CompanyNot named by a company in the filing
- 🌳 Size200 acres
- ⚡ Power it needs400 megawatts (about as much as 320,000 homes)
- 🔌 Where the power comes fromJefferson Energy (electric co-op). The state review says there is not enough power available now; studies with Georgia Power and Georgia Transmission are ongoing.
- 💧 WaterClarks Hill Lake and Usry's Pond (per state filing) · 100,000 gallons a day
- 💵 Cost$1 billion
- 👷 Jobs promised125
❓ Still unanswered
Nobody has answered these in public yet. Can you help find out?
- Who is the developer and end user? 🙋 I'll find out
- Where will 400 megawatts of power come from? 🙋 I'll find out
- Will water come from Clarks Hill Lake? 🙋 I'll find out
What happened so far
- Jan 10, 2026Project Azalea filed for state regional review (DRI #4602): six buildings on 200 acres, 400 MW.
- Feb 13, 2026CSRA Regional Commission finished its review.
- March 17, 2026McDuffie County Commission approved the project 4-1.
Local votes and rules
✅ Approved
McDuffie County commissioners voted 4-1 to approve Project Azalea, a 200-acre data center estimated at about $1 billion. A state-required regional review found there is not enough power available yet and no traffic study had been done.
An aerial photo of the area.
Where this comes from
- DRI #4602: Project Azelea (Development of Regional Impact filing) · Georgia Department of Community Affairs · Jan 10, 2026
- DRI #4602: Project Azelea, Additional Information Form · Georgia Department of Community Affairs · Jan 10, 2026
- McDuffie County leaders approve $1B Project Azalea data center · WRDW/WAGT News 12 · March 17, 2026
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