U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock is urging the federal government to establish stronger protections for communities facing the rapid expansion of data centers, citing growing concerns over water use, transparency, and local input as Georgia continues to attract major artificial intelligence infrastructure projects.
In a letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Warnock called on the agency to issue guidance that would help states and local governments better evaluate and mitigate the environmental impacts of large-scale data centers. His request comes as reports indicate OpenAI is planning a $20 billion data center campus, known as “Project Camellia,” in Effingham County.
Warnock noted that Georgia has become the nation’s sixth-largest data center market, with approximately 230 facilities statewide. While those developments have generated economic investment, he said the rapid pace of construction has also heightened concerns about pressure on local water supplies and the long-term sustainability of surrounding communities.
The senator asked the EPA to develop best-practice guidance for state and local officials, including recommendations for measuring and disclosing water consumption, assessing cumulative environmental impacts, and improving public transparency during the permitting process. He also encouraged the agency to provide technical assistance to communities evaluating proposed projects.
Warnock’s announcement references polling that found 70% of Americans oppose the construction of artificial intelligence data centers in their own communities, underscoring what he described as a growing need for stronger safeguards as AI infrastructure expands.
The proposal follows increasing national scrutiny over the environmental footprint of data centers, particularly their demand for electricity and water. Across the country, residents have raised concerns about groundwater depletion, utility costs, and the lack of local input in the approval process for large-scale facilities. Recent protests and regulatory discussions have reflected those concerns as more states grapple with balancing economic development against environmental impacts.
If adopted, the EPA guidance would not create new federal regulations but could provide a framework for state and local governments to better evaluate the effects of future data center developments while helping communities protect natural resources and improve transparency in the approval process.
