Homeowners in Georgia are feeling the pressure from the state amid the rising wave of artificial intelligence, which is impacting their properties. The energy provider Georgia Power has announced plans to construct a new transmission line primarily to support upcoming data centers. The company projects that approximately 70-80% of the electricity from this new line will be allocated for these data centers, while the remaining 20-30% will address the increasing demand from residential and commercial sectors.
Georgia Power has indicated that the current demand for energy has surpassed the capacity of its existing infrastructure. To facilitate the construction of the new transmission line, the utility needs to acquire over 300 land parcels, including homes.
One such affected property is the childhood home of Ansley Brown, who has strong emotional ties to the place she’s known since the age of five. “This is our family home; we belong here,” she stated during an interview with CBS News. Brown revealed that her mother envisioned the property as a means of creating "true generational wealth" for their family, highlighting the deep sense of loss she feels as it’s being taken away.
“This feels like theft,” she expressed. Brown’s mother has reached a deal with Georgia Power to sell the property voluntarily, but they remain acutely aware of the alternative: the company could resort to eminent domain, a legal procedure that enables the state to confiscate private property for publicly beneficial projects, offering compensation.
“To us, it feels like a large corporation is unjustly taking land from people who don't have the resources to contest it,” Brown emphasized. “We lack the financial means to stand up to Georgia Power.”
A representative for Georgia Power, Holly Lovett, remarked that the use of eminent domain is always considered a final option, one that the company seeks to avoid. She defended their approach to the process, asserting that they strive to act responsibly, although Brown remains skeptical of this claim.
“You can't demolish 35 miles of rural Georgia without causing pain to someone,” Brown said. "To justify the destruction in the name of data centers feels like a direct insult to our community and environment."
Several months ago, Brown took to TikTok to raise awareness about her situation and that of others experiencing similar issues. Although she recognizes that she cannot save her home, her goal is to prevent others from facing the same fate. “My mom just wants an apology from Georgia Power, that’s all,” Brown added. “They’ve bullied her for an entire year without a word of remorse. All we want is accountability.”
When CBS News inquired about the possibility of an apology from the utility, Georgia Power maintained that they have aimed to be transparent and to negotiate in good faith, striving to simplify the process for affected residents.
Regarding the clients that will utilize the new data centers, Georgia Power stated that it does not disclose customer information to ensure their safety and security.
