Atlanta is quickly becoming one of the nation’s leading data-center markets. In the first half of 2026, the city had approximately 2,882 megawatts of data-center capacity under construction, more than any other major North American market tracked by CBRE. The growth is being fueled in large part by the rising demand for artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and other digital services.
Those concerns are now reaching Atlanta City Hall. The Atlanta City Council is considering a 23-member data-center task force to examine issues including electricity, water use, noise, land use, and the impact of data centers on the city's tax base. We are closely monitoring the work of the task force and will continue to track developments as the city considers its approach to data-center growth and regulation.
For Atlanta, the challenge will be finding the right balance between attracting technology investment and protecting residents and public resources. As the city positions itself for the AI-driven economy, the debate over who benefits, who pays, and how much infrastructure these facilities should require is likely to become an increasingly important part of Atlanta's future.