Update 2026-01-17: the next such Workshop is being rescheduled; we don’t yet know until when.

Reliable power and water are needed for economic development. Let’s not jeopardize those for AI datacenters which may not even be needed in a few years. Don’t assume just because the governor says we’re doing datacenters that they will expand everywhere. Remember the dotcom bust and how cheap PCs took over, then smartphones. Somebody will invent a much less expensive method of doing so-called artificial intelligence, a method that does not require huge datacenters.

I discussed that as Suwannee Riverkeeper with others at the second Workshop for the five-year Update of the Lowndes County Comprehensive Plan, on November 17, 2025.

Further, there are natural limits on water beyond economic limits of running water and sewer lines. Witness Barber Pool, which used to be a popular swimming venue on River Street in Valdosta. It was fed by a spring that now hardly ever trickles, because of argricultural water withdrawals for irrigation.

The next such Workshop is this Monday, January 20, 2026, at about 6 PM, after the Work Session of the Greater Lowndes Planning Commission (GLPC), at 325 West Savannah Avenue, Valdosta, GA. These Workshops are organized by the Southern Georgia Regional Commission (SGRC). They are attended by representatives of a wide range of local governments, nonprofits, and businesses. The resulting Comprehensive Plan will be referenced in every rezoning or variance or special exception.

Power, water, and datacenters, –Suwannee Riverkeeper 2025-11-17, Lowndes County Comprehensive Plan, Update Workshop 2

With much other discussion, the attendees agreed on rewording some passages to say: Continue reading →