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- calendar_today October 29, 2026
Community Calls for Transparency on Data Center Plans
For several months, residents of Wilkes County, Georgia, have been requesting greater transparency about a proposed data center project. Despite ongoing discussions, many community members say they are still struggling to get clear answers from officials on key aspects of the project.
City Funding and Transmission Study Raise Questions
The community's concerns mounted after a recent memo from the City of Washington revealed financial commitments tied to the data center. Ken Parrish, a resident, referenced a city memorandum dated May 18, explaining, "The City of Washington will provide a nonrefundable deposit of $175,000 to mega power for this requested transmission study so our city committed $175,000 of your tax money." The use of taxpayer funds for the transmission study was a focal point of discussion and inquiry.
Disagreements at City Council Meeting
The tension was evident during a recent city council meeting, where one council member urged residents to participate in meetings and utilize open records requests to seek information. However, many residents expressed frustration with having to file an open records request to get basic answers about the project.
Washington resident Ty Cross remarked, "Not a lot of transparency—nobody knows about who has signed what, who has put one into place. It’s just a lot of random numbers being thrown out or nothing being told to us at all." Similar sentiments were echoed by Charles Ware, who stated, "I would love for them to inform us on what they’re doing because supposedly they’re supposed to be representing us. If you’re gonna represent us, then you have to inform us on how you’re representing us and in what ways."
Calls for a Project Moratorium
Some Wilkes County residents are calling for a temporary halt to the data center plans until outstanding questions are addressed. Elizabeth Crabbe advocated for "a moratorium for a couple of reasons—one of them is because of the electric. We just don’t know which company will come in, if indeed one does, and the city needs some time to explain what they’re doing and what they hope to accomplish."
Questions Over Impact and Representation
Community member Martha Read expressed skepticism about the promised benefits, saying, "So far we haven’t really gotten anything except that it’s a wonderful thing. It’s gonna do great for the city and all this. Under the right circumstances maybe in some places it will work, but I don’t think that that’s what this particular town—this is a town, not a city."
Others, such as Janyia Cross, hope city leadership will genuinely consider citizens’ perspectives: "I hope that our city council members will actually listen to the things that we say and, you know, we don’t have to run or leave Washington to get what we want."
Ongoing Community Concerns Drive Discussion
The ongoing discussions surrounding the wilkes county data center project highlight key community concerns about data center transparency, public funding, and the importance of timely, clear communication from local officials. Residents continue to seek answers, transparency, and assurance that their voices are being heard as decisions move forward on the proposed data center in Wilkes County.
Source: wjbf.com.
