Warner Robins Council approves data center moratorium for six months

WARNER ROBINS — The Warner Robins City Council has officially paused data center development.

At a city council meeting on July 20, the council unanimously approved a temporary six-month moratorium on data centers. According to council documents, the moratorium pauses acceptance, processing, or issuing new applications for zoning, building permits, business licenses or conditional use permits related to constructing, establishing or expanding a data center.

The moratorium remains in effect until January 2027.

Citizens raised concerns about AI, costs to taxpayers, and community impact during the meeting.

Warner Robins resident Andrew Davidson spoke at the meeting about data centers used for artificial intelligence.

As he described, and according to prior HHJ coverage, AI training models (like Gemini and ChatGPT) use thousands of graphics processing units (GPUs) housed in a data center building to perform calculations faster and more efficiently than central processing units (CPUs).

“If a normal computer processor is like one brilliant engineer solving one problem after another, a GPU is like thousands of engineers working on the same problem simultaneously. That ability is what makes artificial intelligence possible,” Davidson said.

Davidson’s concern was how AI links to systems like Flock.

Flock uses cameras to gather information about vehicles and uses AI to compile a searchable database for law enforcement, according to the company. County commissioners approved the cameras in December of 2022.

Davidson asked that the data center debate shift its focus past economic and environmental issues.

“When we discuss data centers, let’s move beyond conversations about water usage, transmission lines, tax incentives, and land clearing. Those are important discussions, but they are not the whole discussion,” Davidson said.

But that’s exactly what Roshonda Bailey, another Warner Robins resident, wanted to talk about. Her concern was about rising taxes and utility bills.

“We already pay enough in bills as far as electricity and water and gas. So, if they build it, who’s going to ultimately end up paying this price?” Bailey asked.

As an educator, Bailey is concerned about children relying too much on AI. A recent NPR poll showed a majority of teachers worry AI makes it harder for students to think for themselves.

“Our kids are already struggling to read, and they rely on this AI versus their own brain. I don’t think we need data centers to help aid an educational crisis that we already have with our kids. We are teachers fighting just to get students to learn,” Bailey said.

In council comments, Councilman Keith Lauritsen validated Bailey’s concerns, while thanking the city for enacting the moratorium.

“I really like the point about the kids not learning how to read and write, and they’re just using AI. You’re exactly right,” Lauritsen said. “I know, in some form and fashion, that it’s an advantage to have AI in some ways, but there’s good and bad that come with it.”

Meanwhile, Councilman Charlie Bibb said he was pleased to see the motion on the agenda, and said the moratorium signifies the city looking out for citizens.

“We’re being ahead of the game for our community and we’re going to do what’s right for our community,” Bibb said.

Council documents note that the city’s zoning code does not define data centers, nor does it include regulations on location or potential impacts. Mayor LaRhonda Patrick said the moratorium gives the city time to research data centers, decide whether they fit, and put regulations in place if one is eventually accepted.

“This is us doing our homework, doing our due diligence to make sure we are doing what is best for our citizens at large in the city of Warner Robins,” Patrick said. “Your concerns are heard, and we will do our part to bring forth something that hopefully you all will be proud of.”

The moratorium comes at a time when there are already 229 operational data centers in the state, according to datacentermap.com.

In Houston County, the city of Perry introduced legislation in late 2024 that would only allow data centers by special exception. County leaders previously told the HHJ they have no active plans for a data center and are gauging the effects on surrounding communities before deciding if they are welcome in Houston County.

In the near term, no data center projects will be introduced in Warner Robins. The city is taking a policy-first approach, and public comments may help shape what comes next as officials decide how to move forward.