LaGrange halts new data centers for 6 months. Does it affect the $8B one already planned?
LaGrange has issued a moratorium on data centers and will not allow any new ones to be planned in the city’s 45 square miles, at least until March 22, 2026.
The LaGrange City Council unanimously passed a resolution Tuesday calling for a 180-day moratorium on all data centers in LaGrange. This comes just six days after Troup County passed its own moratorium on data center development for 90 days, but it did not apply to LaGrange.
The Troup County Board of Commissioners, LaGrange mayor and the LaGrange City Council all share a similar sentiment that more research and public input is needed around data centers before potentially creating an ordinance that may set limitations on size, sound and resources allocated.
“We need further discussions and other modifications to our (unified development ordinance), so we’re going to take 180 days,” Mayor Jim Arrington told residents at Tuesday’s city council meeting.
He said planning and zoning will make recommendations, and the public will be invited to give feedback in a manner where they will “have their voice heard.”
Data centers are giant warehouses that compute and store data for tech companies such as Meta, Amazon, Google and Microsoft. The facilities use major amounts of energy and water to cool the hot, energy-intensive technology used. A surge in artificial intelligence applications in these companies has skyrocketed data center development across Georgia recently.
Computer network experts say data centers are like the digital infrastructure for our online world, and companies seeking to build these data centers tout job growth and major investment when they look to get approval for these facilities. But resource issues, questions about how these data centers get powered, and concerns of light or noise pollution leave locals concerned.
Cyndie Hutchings, who left her home in Fayette County and moved to LaGrange a year and a half ago because of how close she was to one of the world’s largest data centers, which she said threatened her property value and way of life, is now spearheading the Troup County Anti-Data Center Coalition. She’s sent several emails requesting that city council members create this moratorium.
“I’m happy, we’re heading in the right direction,” Hutchings told the Ledger-Enquirer. “We’re pumping the brakes and doing the research to find out if we really want these in our community–and if we do have them, we want them to be good neighbors that benefit us.”
The Troup County Anti-Data Center Coalition formed in the past month due to the news that an $8 billion dollar facility, dubbed Project Pegasus, was being built in the LaGrange industrial park. The 271-acre business park where Jindal Films previously operated will be home to this data center.
The amount of energy it will need will likely be the same as the city of LaGrange when construction is complete in a few years, and the amount of water is unknown but could be on par with the KIA plant in West Point, which uses 1 million gallons per day, according to Scott Malone, president of the Development Authority of LaGrange.
Science For Georgia, the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, and the Sierra Club held a town hall at the LaGrange Public Library on Sept. 4, with over 200 people turning out to learn more about the resource constraints of data centers. Executive director of Science for Georgia, Amy Sharma, ended the town hall urging that a moratorium be established to pause development of data centers in LaGrange or Troup County.
Two and a half weeks later, it has happened in both jurisdictions.
“I think it’s amazing when that many people come together and decision makers listen to them. I’m super excited – power to the people,” Sharma told the Ledger-Enquirer in reaction to the moratorium.
This moratorium doesn’t affect already-approved LaGrange data center
Many of the local residents in attendance at Tuesday’s city council meeting had the expectation that something could be done about Project Pegasus, which is already under construction.
“Moratoriums only apply to new applications, not someone who is already in the process,” Scott Todd, city attorney, said as a crowd of citizens expressed dismay about the data center’s status moments after the moratorium was passed.
Citizens in attendance asked why there was nothing that could be done to pump the brakes on the facility.
Councilmember Nathan Gaskin came to Project Pegasus’ defense.
“When Jindal left, we had the hole to fill,” he said. “Our economic development team found a fit for it. This is an industrial park. It is an industry. It is already an erect building, already there in place. We’re swapping out one for the other. Whether you approve of the type of business. Somebody has to pay money to keep the water pumping out of West Point.”
Gaskin’s comments were met with boos from people in attendance.
Councilmember Leon Childs told the Ledger-Enquirer that despite Gaskin’s comments, the council didn’t know about Project Pegasus.
“Nothing at all with us, because they had an NDA,” he said. “That’s water under the bridge. It’s here to stay. But I’m hoping we’re going to be more transparent with everything we do. I strongly support this moratorium.”
Those in attendance who wanted to halt Project Pegasus were unhappy after the resolution passed, despite it being a new pause on data centers.
Councilmember Mark Mitchell told residents they needed to speak with Malone, the development authority president.
In an email to the Ledger-Enquirer, Malone said the Development Authority of LaGrange is in support of a moratorium.
“There were several people that reached out to the Mayor and Council requesting a moratorium on future data center projects and the Council voted to take a pause to review current policies to ensure they are in line with best practices.,” he said. “As technology continues to rapidly evolve, the DAL is in support of a moratorium for future projects to ensure a continued commitment to sustainable business practices for our community.”
The development authority, which agreed to bring in Project Pegasus, believes the project is being done in the right area where its perfect for it because of an existing substation, Malone said.
Other data center projects have been rumored for LaGrange. Malone told the Ledger-Enquirer in mid-August that a “Project Crow” is in very early stages of development and is considering LaGrange.
This story was originally published September 24, 2025 at 9:58 AM.
