Common concerns, and the facts.

The facility uses a sealed, closed-loop, non-evaporative cooling system filled with a propylene glycol based coolant, a far less toxic cousin of the ethylene glycol used in car radiators. The system is fully contained: the fluid never touches soil, groundwater, or surface water, and refills happen only in the event of a leak or maintenance.

The cooling loops are filled one time with approximately 619,000 gallons of fluid, made up of 464,250 gallons of water and 154,750 gallons of propylene glycol, a 25 percent glycol mixture. That fill stays in the system. It is not consumed, discharged, or replaced on a schedule.

Ongoing water use is approximately 3,800 gallons per day at peak, covering office use, restrooms, maintenance, and humidification, with humidification accounting for 2,500 gallons of that during the driest conditions. That is roughly what a dozen households use in a day. A separate 20,000 gallon reserve is held on site for fire protection.

Source: Project engineering estimate, August 6, 2026. Figures are estimates pending final piping and system design.

This project, though new and with a larger footprint, will not use any additional power beyond what is already being used at the existing site. No new substation is required. The existing power is simply being relocated to the new facility, and all new lines and infrastructure involved are paid for by CleanSpark at no cost to the citizens of Washington County.

Source: Development Authority of Washington County

The current county tax digest is approximately $900 million. This single project adds approximately $1.6 billion, increasing the digest to approximately $2.5 billion. County tax receipts are currently just over $20 million annually and are projected to increase to approximately $56 million annually. The deal is structured to keep those tax revenues in Washington County, particularly protecting the public schools and their equalization grants.

CleanSpark is already the number one property taxpayer in Washington County, paying more annually than the county's four major kaolin industries combined.

Source: Development Authority of Washington County

Industrial revenue is already visible in the community, including upgrades at Kaolin Park and other community parks across the county and city.

The loudest thing in an older data center is thousands of small high-speed fans. This facility's servers are liquid-cooled in a closed-loop system, which removes that noise source. Outdoor heat rejection uses large, slow-turning fans that run quieter than conventional equipment. The facility also sits in the industrial park, not beside residential neighborhoods.

Measured across the facility as a whole, sound levels are approximately 65 decibels at 150 yards.

The facility is designed to be night sky friendly, with no bright stadium style lighting. All exterior fixtures are shielded and downward facing, perimeter lighting is motion-activated rather than always-on floodlighting, and server buildings run mostly dark and are lightly staffed overnight.

Source: CleanSpark facility materials

There will be a building generator on site, and it exists exclusively for life safety systems. That is no different from other employers and institutions in the community. Local banks and the University of Georgia shared services building in the industrial park operate backup generators for the same purpose.

Backup power for the data center equipment itself does not come from generators. It comes from battery systems housed inside the building.

Emergency generators are permitted under the Clean Air Act, with run-time limits, emissions standards, and reporting requirements.

Source: Development Authority of Washington County; Clean Air Act permitting requirements

A project of this scale is built in stages over several years, and the most intensive activity is not constant. Designated haul routes, restricted hours for heavy trucks, and speed requirements are standard practice for the contractors involved. Once operating, a data center generates far less daily traffic than a comparably sized manufacturing or distribution employer.

The land where this facility is being developed sits in the industrial park and was zoned industrial through the normal public process before this project existed. The site was designated for exactly this kind of use, deliberately located away from residential neighborhoods.

The Development Authority reviewed this project before it moved forward, asking about water, power, taxes, jobs, and fit, and required answers.