The Atlanta City Council voted Tuesday to ban data centers along and near the Atlanta Beltline and within a half-mile of MARTA stations.
Pedestrians, cyclists and those using other modes of non-motorized transportation are primary users of the 22-mile Beltline loop and data centers do not fit in with serving these residents, according to the council.
“This legislation has set Atlanta apart from other cities across the country in that we’re looking to make some changes in how we treat data centers in our urban core,” said Councilmember Jason Dozier, who introduced the legislation with Councilmember Matt Westmoreland earlier this year.
Data centers are typically large buildings where computer servers are stored and digital data is transmitted to meet rising consumer demand for online information from companies like Google and Microsoft as well as games and movies. In Atlanta, data center projects under construction increased by 211% between 2022 and 2023.
The legislation banning the centers near the Beltline also notes that the next phases of development along the corridor will occur in predominantly Black, brown, and low-income neighborhoods. These neighborhoods are historically the most impacted by environmental pollution due to the development of interstates and the proximity of landfills.
Data centers do not typically require a high number of jobs, meaning little economic benefit to neighboring communities. The facilities require significant energy and water to operate, which could harm the city’s resources, according to the legislation.
