Letter to the Editor,
The plain and simple truth about a potential data center and sand mine project to kill the landfill.
Please remember the landfill is being built. It’s not a maybe. It is under construction. The Commissioners have two choices: 1) Approve the ordinance that limits the data center so it must produce its own electricity, must use water from the holding pond to cool the chillers and recirculate it, and keep the noise to acceptable levels, or 2) Let the landfill be finished and millions of tons of trash trucked into Waynesville. Those are the only two options no matter what any out of town politician says.
A few facts about the potential data center and sand mine project which need to be repeated. First and foremost, yes if this company buys the land and builds the data center and sand mine there will be NO LANDFILL.
This has nothing to do with Bitcoin. This is a long-term system with major Fortune 500 companies or government entities. The first phase would be three attractive buildings anyone would be proud to drive up to and work. The second phase could be the same.
The data center project will bring in a natural gas pipeline from the edge of Glynn County along 82 or CSX rights of way. There won’t be any imminent domain issues on private property.
The gas line could run down Hwy. 82 or CSX to Nahunta to feed the pellet mill, and Hoboken to feed the sawmill. This would bring the county double or triple the sales tax on the sale of natural gas. And, it will STOP THE LANDFILL.
They will use the natural gas to create their own electricity. Our men and women know how to run power plants. They do it at pulp mills every day.
In a meeting with upper management and engineering at OREMC, they welcomed the news and offered their support.
In Brunswick, there are three natural gas turbines in use today to manage load swings every day and every night. It is the cleanest way to make enough power to which you can run a facility.
And, the county and school board will bring in about $500,000 a year in sales tax on the sale of that natural gas. And, it will STOP THE LANDFILL.
The large lake which was dug on the property to build the foundation for the landfill currently under construction will be used as water for the “closed loop” water system to cool the computers.
That water will be circulated from the pond to the chillers and back to the pond. The only wellwater needed is to maintain the level in the pond. This will be no more than the water pumped from an irrigation pivot ... in fact it should be less.
Three pulp mills just closed who used about 40 million gallons of water a day each. So, our water table is better off than in many years. And, this project will STOP THE LANDFILL.
The chillers will be managed, and construction will be conducted in such a way to emit minimal noise levels. And, the facility is in the middle of 2,300 acres. Noise won’t be an issue. And, this project will STOP THE LANDFILL.
The data center project brings over 100 well-paying jobs, and does not sell our people short. Our kids who are graduating can absolutely fill these positions once trained.
The sand mine project brings even more. We certainly have people who know how to work the earth.
The estimated addition to Brantley County’s tax digest is between $250-$350 million (or about 50 percent increase) for the data center and the sand mine combined. That will drive a reduction in your property taxes.
Since computers are upgraded every 36 to 48 months, the data center will maintain its value. And, this project will STOP THE LANDFILL.
The Planning Commission, in meetings with the project team explained the property, as zoned today, could hold a data center. The project team has waited for the commission to complete the Land Use exception and its ordinance, but time is running out.
We need the commission to, at its next meeting, approve the Land Use exemption and submit its ordinance, which requires additional readings before its official. If they can do that, we can bring in the biggest project to come to Brantley County in our lifetimes AND, we can STOP THE LANDFILL.
So please call the commissioners at 912-462-5256 to thank them for their work on this project, having an opportunity to finally STOP THE LANDFILL and voice your support for the data center and sand mine project to reduce our taxes, to provide future jobs for our families and as if we can’t say it enough, TO STOP THE LANDFILL.
Ronald E. Ham Brantley County GOP Chairman
