ATLANTA — Today, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp vetoed HB 1192, which would have put a two-year pause on a state tax break for data centers. The bill would have also created a study committee to allow the state to better plan for the influx of data centers and large amounts of power they require. Testimony presented during floor debate showed that the tax break for data centers was only returning 24 cents for every dollar lost.
The bill was partly a response to the revelation by Georgia Power that our electric grid is facing a massive spike in demand, and the data center industry accounts for 80 percent of that growth. To meet the demand, Georgia Power received permission from the Public Service Commission to, among other proposals, build three new oil and gas-burning turbines at Plant Yates and buy coal-powered electricity from Mississippi Power.
In response to the news, Sierra Club Georgia Chapter Director G Webber released the following statement:
"Gov. Kemp’s veto of HB 1192 is beyond disappointing. A two-year pause on this tax break and a promise to study the energy demand from data centers represented a positive step in our state’s efforts to plan for the growth of this relatively new industry. The surge in the demand for power from data centers is propping up old coal plants and causing a rush to build new gas infrastructure. As a result, Georgia communities will see higher levels of air and water pollution, and our fight to curb the worst effects of climate change is hampered. Kemp is burying his head in the sand by refusing to address an issue already having such a significant impact on our state."
About the Sierra Club Georgia Chapter
The Sierra Club Georgia Chapter is the largest grassroots environmental organization in the state, with more than 75,000 members and supporters. The Chapter supports a robust outings program and has active committees working on forest and coastal protection, transit expansion, and clean energy. For more information, visit sierraclub.org/georgia.
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit sierraclub.org.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Ricky Leroux, Senior Communications & Policy Coordinator
404-607-1262 ext. 234 | ricky.leroux@sierraclub.org