Atlanta pushes back on data centers

The City of Atlanta is the latest Georgia municipality to push back on the construction of new data centers, with the City Council this week banning their construction near the Atlanta Beltline and within a half-mile of MARTA stations.  Spurred by big tech, Georgia has become one of the fastest-growing spots in the world for new data centers, with last year’s new construction alone resulting in a 500 MW increase in power usage.  The noisy sites put massive strain on the power grid, and Atlanta officials say they want to preserve the Beltline’s urban core for residential and mixed-use developments.  For data centers looking to score in-town property, the ship is SINKING…