{"id":2610608,"date":"2026-06-04T12:02:02","date_gmt":"2026-06-04T16:02:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/kemp-warns-lance-bottomss-anti-data-center-plan-is-dangerous-for-georgia\/"},"modified":"2026-06-04T12:06:10","modified_gmt":"2026-06-04T16:06:10","slug":"kemp-warns-lance-bottomss-anti-data-center-plan-is-dangerous-for-georgia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/kemp-warns-lance-bottomss-anti-data-center-plan-is-dangerous-for-georgia\/","title":{"rendered":"Kemp warns Lance Bottoms&#8217;s anti-data center plan is dangerous for Georgia"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fkemp-warns-lance-bottomss-anti-data-center-plan-is-dangerous-for-georgia%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2610608&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Outgoing Republican Gov. Brian kemp warned Georgians not to back Democratic nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms, arguing that her plan to impose a moratorium or \u201cfreeze\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/u-c-berkeley-advised-chinese-government-on-economic-decisions\/\" title=\"U.C. Berkeley Advised Chinese Government on Economic Decisions\">data center<\/a> construction would harm the state\u2019s economy.Kemp saeid he opposes data centers being pushed on communities that don\u2019t want them, but he believes there are areas across Georgia where residents do want the jobs and <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >economic benefits data centers bring-citing support<\/a> from poorer counties who have requested such growth.<\/p>\n<p>The dispute comes as Georgia has become a fast-growing hub for data centers, with concerns raised by critics like Bottoms about the pace of expansion, strain on natural resources (including water), and potential utility bill increases. Bottoms has argued for a pause and an assessment to determine whether the state is \u201con the right track\u201d or should scale back.<\/p>\n<p>Kemp countered that Georgia\u2019s energy grid and rate structure are capable of supporting continued data center growth, saying utilities and regulators are building generation capacity and working to lower rates and return money to taxpayers even as demand rises.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Outgoing Gov. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/brian-kemp\/\">Brian Kemp<\/a> (R-GA) on Wednesday cautioned<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/georgia\/\"> Georgians <\/a>against embracing Democratic gubernatorial nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms, warning her position on data centers threatens the state\u2019s economy.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kemp weighed in on the heated governor\u2019s race, which will feature Bottoms against either Lt. Gov. Burt Jones or businessman Rick Jackson on the Republican side in November, during <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=fmAQ8ABFaH0\">an interview<\/a> with Bloomberg Television. The term-limited governor expressed concern about Bottoms\u2019 proposal to impose a moratorium on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/november-to-remember-seven-virginia-state-seats-to-watch-for-youngkin-gop-trifecta\/\" title=\"November&#039;s crucial election in Virginia will determine the outcome of seven state seats, potentially leading to a GOP trifecta under Youngkin&#039;s leadership.\">data center development<\/a> if she wins the election, arguing that Georgia has the energy capacity it needs to grow responsibly, without <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/newsoms-tax-the-rich-electricity-plan-could-increase-rates-for-those-making-28000\/\" title=\"Newsom Proposes Plan Potentially Raising Electricity Rates for Individuals Earning ,000\">raising electricity rates<\/a> for residents.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4594352\/midterm-countdown-expensive\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Midterm Countdown: The most expensive midterm ever?<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4594471\/house-democrat-2026-elections-four-candidates-flagship-program\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>House Democratic campaign arm adds four candidates to flagship program for midterms<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4592504\/hilton-becerra-steyer-early-lead-california-governor-race\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Hilton, Becerra, Steyer in early lead in California governor\u2019s race as vote count continues<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat\u2019s just an insane position to take, because you know, I was down in Early County, Georgia, it\u2019s one of the poorest counties in the United States of America, and they, as soon as I got out of the car, were coming to me, going, \u2018Please help us with our data center, we want to build a data center here,\u2019\u201d he said. \u201c\u2018We know that will <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-promised-this-plant-would-create-jobs-trumps-dhs-just-caught-hundreds-of-illegals-working-there\/\" title=\"Biden Promised This Plant Would Create ...: Trump&#039;s DHS Just Caught Hundreds of Illegals Working There\">provide good-paying jobs<\/a> for our community,\u2019 because they just had a sawmill shut down, and they know that it\u2019ll be good for helping them reduce property taxes.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kemp said he is against putting data centers everywhere, explaining he is not for \u201cpushing them in communities where the local governments and the people don\u2019t want it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBut there are many places around the state where people do want it, and that\u2019s where we need to work with them,\u201d Kemp added. \u201cSo, I think it\u2019s irresponsible for Keisha Lance Bottoms to say freeze construction \u2026 wanting to put moratoriums on growth and business and driving the economy.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His comments come as Georgia has become one of the fast-growing markets for data centers in the country. Critics, such as Bottoms, believe the state has \u201cabsolutely moved too fast\u201d on data centers and express fears that they are draining natural resources such as water and raising utility bills. Bottoms <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/iJjsmfJEVzs?si=2dKtmBw5q9imqAGK&#038;t=1524\">told WANF-TV<\/a> in April that \u201cAs governor, I\u2019m going to ask for a moratorium,\u201d and said she wanted a report to assess the situation before moving forward with further\u00a0projects.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhen you have communities that are saying I\u2019m concerned about this happening in my community, I\u2019m concerned about it happening in my backyard, you have to listen to that,\u201d she said during <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ledger-enquirer.com\/news\/local\/article315312365.html\">another interview<\/a> with the <em>Ledger-Enquirer<\/em> in early April. \u201cIf I had the privilege of being elected governor, I am going to ask for a pause in construction on data centers throughout the state. Give us an opportunity to understand exactly where we are. Are we on the right track, or do we need to scale back?\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Georgia ranks fourth globally in data centers, with $4.6 billion in AI-related venture capital invested across 368 deals, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/americanedgeproject.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Americas-AI-Surge-Powering-Growth-in-Every-State.pdf\">according to<\/a> the American Edge Project. Amazon, Google, and Meta have been attracted to the Peach State, while QTS holds a 99-acre data center campus in northwest Atlanta. The state\u2019s largest city has a bigger percentage increase in data construction than anywhere else in the country, according to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cbre.com\/press-releases\/atlanta-emerges-as-national-leader-in-data-center-net-absorption\">CBRE<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kemp said this week that the state\u2019s energy grid holds the capacity to support the growth, pushing back on concerns that data centers will drain the supply. He said that Georgia power companies are on track to lower rates and return money to taxpayers, even as they continue to build out to meet demand.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/infrastructure\/4362949\/georgia-data-center-2018-tax-break-report\/\">30% OF GEORGIA\u2019S DATA CENTERS TRACED TO 2018 TAX BREAK<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI know that is hard to believe, because that is not happening anywhere else in the rest of the country, which is why our story is so compelling,\u201d the governor said. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe\u2019ve got a great rate structure from Georgia Public Service Commission,\u201d he added. \u201cThe Georgia General Assembly, along with our power producers like Georgia Power, have put a structure in that as we build the generation out, and they\u2019re going to do that by half of what they have now, just in the next less than 10 years, which is pretty incredible that a state can do that to meet the demands of its customers, but also making them pay for that build out and tying that into rates long term.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Kemp warned Georgians against Bottoms, saying her data-center plan could hurt Georgia\u2019s economy<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3142,"featured_media":2610609,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP26114656535696.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[47534,4977,3902,5894],"class_list":["post-2610608","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-data-centers","tag-georgia","tag-infrastructure","tag-politics"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP26114656535696.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2610608","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3142"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2610608"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2610608\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2610612,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2610608\/revisions\/2610612"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2610609"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2610608"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2610608"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2610608"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}