Report on DeKalb County’s Data Center Town Hall: A Sustainable Development Perspective

1.0 Introduction: Aligning Digital Infrastructure with Sustainable Goals

A town hall was convened in DeKalb County, Georgia, to address the proliferation of data centers and their alignment with community and environmental standards. The discussion, led by CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson, focused on balancing economic opportunities with the principles of sustainable development, particularly concerning resource management and infrastructure planning. The county has implemented a temporary moratorium on new data center construction to facilitate a thorough review of environmental impacts, directly addressing the need for sustainable urban planning as outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

2.0 Economic Growth and Technological Innovation (SDG 8 & SDG 9)

The meeting highlighted the significant economic and infrastructural implications of the data center industry, which is experiencing a boom driven by advancements in artificial intelligence.

• Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8): Data centers present a substantial revenue source. A single large facility is projected to generate between $1 million and $46 million annually, contributing to local economic vitality.
• Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure (SDG 9): The expansion of data centers is recognized as a critical component of modern digital infrastructure. Experts noted that the “digital age” necessitates such facilities, positioning the region to support future technological innovation.

3.0 Environmental Impact and Resource Management (SDG 6, SDG 7, & SDG 12)

A primary focus of the discussion was the environmental footprint of data centers, emphasizing the need for responsible consumption of natural resources.

1. Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6): Significant water consumption by data centers, exemplified by a Meta facility using approximately 10% of Newton County’s daily water supply, was a key concern. The importance of early collaboration between developers and water providers was stressed to ensure sustainable water management.
2. Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7): Panelists noted the exceptional electricity demand of data centers, particularly those housing AI hardware. This high energy consumption poses a challenge to regional energy grids and climate goals.
3. Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12): To mitigate environmental impact, the adoption of sustainable technologies is crucial. DeKalb County already mandates closed-loop cooling systems, a more water-efficient alternative to traditional methods, promoting responsible resource consumption patterns.

4.0 Governance, Policy, and Sustainable Communities (SDG 11 & SDG 17)

The county’s approach involves proactive governance and legislative action to ensure that development is both sustainable and community-oriented.

• Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11): The moratorium on new construction (Oct. 16 – Dec. 16) allows the county to develop clear guidelines and study environmental effects, ensuring that future development is integrated responsibly into the community’s fabric.
• Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17): The town hall itself serves as a model for partnership, bringing together government officials, industry experts, academics, and the public. Furthermore, proposed legislation like House Bill 528, which would require high-resource-use facilities to disclose water and energy consumption before receiving permits or tax incentives, exemplifies a policy-driven approach to corporate accountability and sustainable development.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: The article heavily focuses on the significant water consumption of data centers, mentioning that one facility uses “10 percent of Newton County’s total daily water usage.” It also discusses mitigation strategies like “closed-loop cooling.”
• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy: The article highlights that data centers, particularly those for AI, affect “energy use” and require an “exceptional amount of electricity,” linking directly to energy consumption and efficiency.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The economic impact is a key theme, with the article noting that a single data center can generate “$1 million to $46 million annually,” contributing to local “economic growth.”
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: The entire discussion revolves around the development of new, high-tech infrastructure (data centers) fueled by innovation (“the rise of artificial intelligence”) and its integration into the community.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The article addresses the challenge of integrating large-scale industrial facilities into a community. The county’s moratorium to “study environmental effects” and address public concerns over “water usage, environmental impacts, and noise levels” directly relates to planning sustainable urban development.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: The core issue is the high resource consumption (water and energy) of the data center industry. The debate around developing “clearer guidelines” and promoting efficient technologies like “closed-loop cooling” aligns with achieving sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions: The article showcases governance in action. The DeKalb County CEO hosting a town hall, issuing a “moratorium on new construction,” and the proposal of “House Bill 528” to require resource use disclosure are all examples of developing effective, accountable, and transparent institutions to manage development.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 6.4: By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity.
   • This is addressed through the discussion of high water usage by data centers and the promotion of efficient technologies like “closed-loop cooling as an efficient alternative to traditional water-intensive methods.”
2. Target 7.3: By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency.
   • The concern over the “exceptional amount of electricity” required by AI hardware implies a need for energy-efficient solutions in the data center industry.
3. Target 8.2: Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation.
   • The article frames data centers, fueled by “advances in AI technology,” as a new industry contributing significantly to the local economy, with potential revenues of up to “$46 million annually” from a single facility.
4. Target 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes.
   • The county’s effort to “study environmental effects and develop clearer guidelines” for data center construction, along with the requirement for “closed-loop cooling,” directly supports this target.
5. Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.
   • The community’s concerns about “water usage, environmental impacts, and noise levels” and the government’s response with a moratorium reflect efforts to manage the environmental footprint of new industrial development within the county.
6. Target 12.2: By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.
   • The entire debate described in the article—balancing economic growth with the high consumption of energy and water by data centers—is centered on this target. House Bill 528, which would require disclosure of resource usage, is a direct policy tool for this purpose.
7. Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels.
   • The town hall meeting itself, the temporary moratorium for study, and the proposed “House Bill 528” that would “require high-resource-use facilities to disclose water and energy usage” are all actions aimed at creating transparent and accountable governance around this new industry.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator for Target 6.4 (Water-use efficiency): The article provides a specific data point: the Meta facility “uses about 10 percent of Newton County’s total daily water usage.” This quantitative measure serves as a direct indicator of water consumption levels. The adoption rate of technologies like “closed-loop cooling” could be another.
• Indicator for Target 7.3 (Energy efficiency): While no specific numbers are given, the proposed “House Bill 528” would require facilities to “disclose… energy usage.” This disclosed data would become a key indicator for measuring and tracking the energy intensity of the data center industry.
• Indicator for Target 8.2 (Economic productivity): The article provides a direct financial indicator: “a single large data center can generate from $1 million to $46 million annually.” This revenue figure can be used to measure the economic contribution of the industry to the local economy.
• Indicator for Target 11.6/12.2 (Resource Management/Environmental Impact): The number of new construction applications (“three applications under review”) and the implementation of policies like the “moratorium on new construction” serve as indicators of development pressure and the institutional response to manage environmental impacts.
• Indicator for Target 16.6 (Transparent Institutions): The existence and potential passage of legislation like “House Bill 528” serves as an indicator of progress towards creating transparent and accountable governance regarding resource use.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: decaturish.com