Tag Archives: Economy

Petition: Data Center Due Diligence 2026-03-31

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We the undersigned insist on the following:

No datacenters without at least transparency, a datacenter ordinance, due diligence, public hearings, closed-loop cooling, siting away from waterbodies and neighborhoods, a Development of Regional Impact (DRI) study, and a bond in case of premature closing.

The petition:

https://c.org/9FndqzS4dq

[Petition, Lowndes County, GA: Data Center Due Diligence, Withlacoochee River, Mud Swamp Creek]
Petition, Lowndes County, GA: Data Center Due Diligence, Withlacoochee River, Mud Swamp Creek

  1. Local governments need to pass a moratorium on datacenter applications until they have a comprehensive datacenter ordinance.
  2. Local governments need to pass good data center ordinances before considering any application.
  3. Local governments need to do their due diligence, with independent third-party evidence, not just believe what data center companies tell them.
  4. Local governments need to initiate a Development of Regional Impact (DRI) study for any datacenter of sufficient size.
  5. State governments need to prohibit data centers and electric utilities from passing on power costs to other ratepayers.
  6. Local, state, and national governments need to stop passing tax rebates and other favoritism for an industry owned by billionaires.
  7. All needs to be with continual citizen input.
  8. With all the local business parks, no datacenter should be next to a waterbody or a neighborhood.

Everyone needs to consider that the so-called artificial intelligence (AI) industry may be a bubble and putting too many eggs in one basket for jobs and tax revenue is not prudent when the bubble may pop at any time.

For much more information, see:

https://wwals.net/issues/datacenters

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

You can help with clean, swimmable, fishable, drinkable, water in the 10,000-square-mile Suwannee River Basin in Florida and Georgia by becoming a WWALS member today!
https://wwals.net/donations/

Videos: Public Hearing about Datacenter Ordinance –Irwin County Board of Commissioners 2026-03-17

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Here are WWALS videos of the first Irwin County Commission Public Hearing about a Data Center Ordinance, on March 17, 2026.

The next Public Hearing will be March 30, 2026 at 5:45p.m in the Irwin County Courthouse, located at 301 South Irwin Avenue, Ocilla, Georgia.

The third and last Public Hearing will be April 6, 2026, before the Irwin County Commission meeting, presumably also at 5:45 PM and at the Courthouse.

[Videos: Public Hearing about Datacenter Ordinance --Irwin County BOCC, 2026-03-17]
Videos: Public Hearing about Datacenter Ordinance –Irwin County BOCC, 2026-03-17

Among the many good points brought up by citizens at the March 17 Public Hearing were the need for much more due diligence, tuning the ordinance to prevent specific harms, enforcement of the ordinance, as well as specific concerns of cost of wells, water levels, water quality, vegetative buffers, waste disposal, air quality, noise levels, wildlife, electric power, property values, agriculture, the Alapaha River, and limits on the size of any datacenters.

Despite a persistent rumor, the Irwin County Commission definitely did not vote on the previous datacenter application, because the applicant withdrew the application, so there was nothing to vote on.

See also Continue reading →

Madison County calls for a moratorium on WFNF 2026-03-25

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Update 2026-03-26: “Good afternoon! During their regular meeting last night, the Madison County Board of County Commissioners approved the attached Resolution to express their opposition to the Water First North Florida pipeline project. We appreciate your service to rural communities and your continued support of Madison County.” —Madison County Manager Sherilyn Pickels

Update 2026-03-25: NAQA’A Desalination Plant in Umm Al Quwain, U.A.E. 2019-07-09.

On its agenda for tomorrow evening, Madison County will call for a moratorium on Water First North Florida (WFNF), the plan to pipe treated wastewater from Jacksonville into the Suwannee River Basin.

For much more about WFNF, see:

https://wwals.net/issues/wfnf

[Madison County calls for a moratorium on Water First North Florida, 2026-03-25]
Madison County calls for a moratorium on Water First North Florida, 2026-03-25

Received from Rick Davis this afternoon, “Here is a link for the Resolution from Madison County to be considered at our March 25 Commission meeting at 6pm.”

https://madisoncountyfl.community.diligentoneplatform.com/document/378b10b9-874b-4072-b297-088c2e4a46e2

RESOLUTION NO. 2026-03-25

A RESOLUTION OF THE MADISON COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IN MADISON, FLORIDA, OPPOSING THE FIRST NORTH FLORIDA (WENF) PIPELINE PROJECT AS CURRENTLY PROPOSED; REQUESTING AN IMMEDIATE MORATORIUM PENDING INDEPENDENT STUDY; AND DIRECTING TRANSMITTAL TO STATE OFFICIALS

WHEREAS, Continue reading →

NCFRPC against WFNF 2026-03-26

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Update 2026-03-26: Yes, they passed the resolution.

The NCFRPC will take up its own resolution against the WFNF project to pipe treated wastewater from Jacksonville into the Suwannee Basin.

For all the other local and regional government resolutions and letters and more, see:

https://wwals.net/issues/wfnf

[NCFRPC against WFNF, Thursday, March 26, 2026, After its Task Force, Against treated wastewater from JAX]
NCFRPC against WFNF, Thursday, March 26, 2026, After its Task Force, Against treated wastewater from JAX

There will be a meeting of the North Central Florida Regional Planning Council on March 26, 2026. The meeting will be held as a hybrid meeting in-person at the Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites, Suwannee Room, 213 Southwest Commerce Boulevard, Lake City, Florida, and via Communications Media Technology at 7:00 p.m.

To join the meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone:

https://meet.goto.com/193371933

DIAL IN NUMBER: Toll Free: 1.866.899.4679

ACCESS CODE: 193 371 933

MEETING STARTS AT 7:00 P.M.

Please email koons@ncfrpc.org by March 25, 2026 to let us know if you will be attending the meeting in-person or via communications media technology. THANK YOU.

Of particular interest:

VIII. A. Executive Committee –

1. Water First North Florida Aquifer Recharge Project Resolution No. 2026-14

…

VIII. C. Middle and Lower Suwannee River and Withlacoochee River Task Force Update

Before we get to that, in the Minutes from January 26, 2026:

PUBLIC COMMENTS –

Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson discussed the Water First North Florida Project Continue reading →

Opposition to the Water First North Florida Project –Columbia County BOCC 2026-03-05

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Here is the letter against WFNF and for sustainable water solutions that Columbia County approved on March 5, 2026.

For much more about WFNF, including all the other local government letters and resolutions, see:

https://wwals.net/issues/wfnf

[Opposition to Water First North Florida by Columbia County BOCC, March 5, 2026]
Opposition to Water First North Florida by Columbia County BOCC, March 5, 2026

District No. 1 – Kevin Parnell
District No. 2 – Rocky Ford
District No. 3 – Robby Hollingsworth
District No. 4 – Everett Phillips
District No. 5 – Tim Murphy

Board OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS @ COLUMBIA COUNTY

March 5, 2026

Suwannee River Water Management District
9225 CR 49
Live Oak, Florida 32060

Subject: Opposition to the Water First North Florida Project Continue reading →

Madison County against WFNF 2026-02-27

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Madison County was the first elected body to oppose #WFNF.

This is the letter posted by Madison County Commissioner Donnie Waldrep Sr. on February 27, 2026.

For all such letters and resolutions and more, see:

https://wwals.net/issues/wfnf

[Madison County against Water First North Florida 2026-02-27, #WFNF: JAX treated wastewater into Suwannee Basin]
Madison County against Water First North Florida 2026-02-27, #WFNF: JAX treated wastewater into Suwannee Basin

Suwannee River Water Management District
9225 CR 49
Live Oak, Florida 32060

Subject: Opposition to the Water First North Florida Project

To Whom It May Concern,

The Madison Board of County Commissioners respectfully submits this letter to express our formal opposition to the proposed Water First North Florida project. After reviewing available project materials, we believe the project poses potential risks to the longterm welfare of our county and the surrounding region.

Key concerns include: Continue reading →

Town of Branford Resolution against WFNF 2026-03-01

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Branford is at the mouth of the Santa Fe River, and downstream of the Ichetucknee River, both of which Water First North Florida (#WFNF) purport to help.

For more about WFNF, including the other local and regional government opposition, see:

https://wwals.net/issues/wfnf

[Town of Branford, Resolution against WFNF 2026-03-01, Water First North Florida, JAX treated wastewater]
Town of Branford, Resolution against WFNF 2026-03-01, Water First North Florida, JAX treated wastewater

RESOLUTION NO. 2026-003

A RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN OF BRANFORD, FLORIDA, OPPOSING THE FIRST NORTH FLORIDA (WENF) PIPELINE PROJECT AS CURRENTLY PROPOSED; REQUESTING AN IMMEDIATE MORATORIUM PENDING INDEPENDENT STUDY; AND DIRECTING TRANSMITTAL TO STATE OFFICIALS

WHEREAS, the St. Johns River Water Management District and the Suwannee River Water Management District approved elements of the Water First North Florida (WFNF) project in November 2025, which includes a proposed approximately 90-mile pipeline to transport highly treated reclaimed water from facilities in the Jacksonville metropolitan area to wetlands within the Suwannee River Basin for purposes of aquifer recharge; and

WHEREAS, the project is estimated to cost between $1.0 and $1.1 billion, including approximately $400 million in funding from JEA, and proposes to recharge the Floridan Aquifer with more than 40 million gallons per day; and Continue reading →

Public Hearing about Datacenter Ordinance –Irwin County Board of Commissioners 2026-03-17

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Irwin County is holding a Public Hearing about a Data Center Ordinance
tomorrow, March 17, 2026, at 6 PM,
in the Irwin County Administration Building, 225 East Fourth Street, Ocilla, Georgia.

[Public Hearing about Datacenter Ordinance, Irwin County BOC, 6 PM, March 17, 2026]
Public Hearing about Datacenter Ordinance, Irwin County BOC, 6 PM, March 17, 2026

See also Irwinville Data Center Withdrawn by Applicant, Irwin County Commission 2026-03-02.

https://wwals.net/?p=69660

Here is the Public Notice and the draft ordinance.

Linked in a popup on https://irwincounty-ga.gov:

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

The Irwin County Board of Commissioners will hold a Public Hearing on March 17, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in the Irwin County Administration Building, located at 225 East Fourth Street, Ocilla, Georgia and March 30, 2026 at 5:45p.m in the Irwin County Courthouse, located at 301 South Irwin Avenue, Ocilla, Georgia. The purpose of these hearings are to receive public comments regarding the following matter:

  • Review Data Center Ordinance
Continue reading →

Irwinville Data Center Withdrawn by Applicant, Irwin County Commission 2026-03-02

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Here’s a reason to stay until the end of a County Commission meeting.

A proposed data center ordinance was read at the March 2, 2026, Irwin County Commission meeting, according to correspondence between the former data center applicant’s attorney and the Irwin County Attorney.

It was not on the agenda. I’m guessing they read it under

13. NEW BUSINESS

a. APPROVE APPLICATION FOR A SPECIAL EXCEPTION TO ZONING FOR DATA CENTER

Tomorrow in Ocilla there is a a Public Hearing about Datacenter Ordinance –Irwin County Board of Commissioners 2026-03-17.

https://wwals.net/?p=69663

[Irwinville Data Center, Withdrawn by Applicant 2026-03-02, Irwin County Commission, and Developments of Regional Impact (DRI)]
Irwinville Data Center, Withdrawn by Applicant 2026-03-02, Irwin County Commission, and Developments of Regional Impact (DRI)

I got the attorney correspondence by asking in an open records request for the applicant withdrawal letter that staff read at the Public Hearing on March 2.

First, that withdrawal letter.

Then a document on Developments of Regional Impact (DRI).

Then a couple of maps labeled as Concept Site Plan with the name for the project as Ocilla DC.

Finally, there are images of the rest of the document the County Attorney sent in response to a WWALS open records request. The entire PDF document he sent is on the WWALS website. Continue reading →

Datacenter: recommended approval –Irwin County Planning Commission 2026-02-26

Update 2026-03-02: Datacenter Special Exception Public Hearing @ Irwin County Commission 2026-03-02.

All four Planning Commissioners present voted to recommend approval of the proposed Special Exception for the Data Center near Irwinville, last Thursday, February 26, 2026.

[Datacenter: recommended approval, Irwin County Planning Commission, After many speakers, most against 2026-02-26]
Datacenter: recommended approval, Irwin County Planning Commission, After many speakers, most against 2026-02-26

The next stop is the Irwin County Commission, this Monday, March 2, 2026, at 5:45 PM, in the same location, the Irwin County Courthouse, 301 South Irwin Avenue, Ocilla, Ga. 31774.

After numerous people spoke against and a few for that item, IC-SE-01-2026, two of the members of the Ocilla-Irwin County Planning Advisory Commission spoke at length about what they had been told or read or saw on a visit to another datacenter, as why they were for it, plus the promise of $20 million a year in tax revenue.

None of that was in the extremely thin board packet. So thin that their staff, Jessica Harris, Irwin County Interim Chief Appraiser, said at the beginning of that item that staff had no recommendation for or against because there was not enough information to go on.

The other two Planning Commissioners said they were for tabling the item due to lack of information.

However, one of the two for the project, Chairman Alan Smith, moved for approval. The other one, Vice Chair Tara Smith, seconded. And the remaining two, Arlinda Murrell and Ms. Walker, reluctantly also raised their hands.

Questions not answered with any documentation continue to include who is the datacenter customer (Google?), where are the specifications for the closed loop cooling water system, and what would those 200-300 high-paying local permanent jobs be doing, that were advertised in the slides for Irwin Forward Tech Park.

The proposed location is on Ponderosa Drive, Irwinville, Georgia 31783, quite near the Alapaha River.

Below are links to each WWALS video of each speaker or topic, with a few notes by John S. Quarterman, followed by a WWALS video playlist.

Most speakers were against the special exception, except for the few noted as for or as part of or attorney for the applicant.

Apologies for any incorrect names. And Continue reading →