Mayor explains what Warner Robins is studying during its data center moratorium

Mayor LaRhonda Patrick says leaders will examine potential effects on water, electricity, gas, zoning and residential rates while seeking public input.

WARNER ROBINS, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Warner Robins city leaders are using a six-month moratorium on data center applications to study potential effects on water, utilities, zoning and property values. They’ve given themselves six months to ask critical questions and plan for how a data center could affect water, utilities and property values.

On July 20, the Warner Robins City Council approved a six-month moratorium on data center applications.

City leaders are using the freeze to study resource impacts and zoning areas. Warner Robins Mayor LaRhonda Patrick says the moratorium was the best thing for the city.

“It really does show the community we are being proactive when it comes to this,” she said. “Many communities are hit with the issues of data centers, where they are approached by a data center, and data centers come, needing a lot of resources. As far as money to a city, but there are other parts, that the community is not too fond of.”

Patrick says the city will evaluate whether a data center fits Warner Robins’ character.

“Number one no-no is negatively impacting our resources, our natural resources,” she said. “Which water is top of line when you’re talking about data centers. We can’t allow someone to come in and suck up all our water resources, and be left with water with low pressure, for example. That’s what we’re hearing in other communities.”

She says the city will measure potential strains on local electricity, gas, water and residential rates.

“So, there’s so many factors that come into play when determining if a data center can come in, what type of data center can come in,” she said. “And knowing up front what those data centers require for their perfect location is essential.”

Patrick says city leaders will take input from local residents at upcoming council meetings.

“Just share, ‘Hey, this is what we’ve learned from data centers. We want to hear from you during some sort of listening session or a town hall that’s based on data centers and those concerns,'” she said. “We want to hear from the community, let us hear your thoughts.”

The moratorium will last through January 20, 2027.