Mississippi is making moves to attract data centers with Senate Bill SB 3168, offering tax exemptions for projects investing $250M+ and creating high-paying jobs. Meanwhile, Pittsylvania County, VA, faces heated opposition over a proposed 750-acre data center project, with environmental concerns clashing against economic benefits.
Virginia’s ongoing data center boom is drawing legislative scrutiny as new laws aim to address noise and energy impacts. Georgia is also weighing new rules requiring data centers to cover infrastructure costs rather than shifting the burden onto residents. And in Leesburg, VA, officials rejected a mixed-use data center proposal, citing noise and community concerns.
Mississippi Senate Bill SB 3168: Boosting Data Center Investment with Tax Incentives
A new Senate bill, SB 3168, passed out of the Senate Finance Committee, seeks to attract more data centers to Mississippi by offering targeted sales and use tax exemptions. Under the bill, any new data center that invests at least $250 million and creates 35 full-time jobs—with wages at least 125% of the state average—will qualify for these exemptions.
Additionally, centers undergoing a qualifying $100 million expansion could receive up to two 10-year benefits extensions. While the bill does not cover corporate income or business taxes, it specifically addresses hardware replacement costs.
Lawmakers noted that, although sales and use tax are critical issues, electricity availability also plays a key role in attracting data centers. This legislative effort comes as Mississippi has already seen substantial investments from major players like Amazon and Compass Data Centers, positioning the state to be more competitive with its neighbors.
Read The Full Article at Hattiesburg Patriot
Pittsylvania County Data Center Faces Strong Opposition From Southern Environmental Law Center
The Southern Environmental Law Center is urging the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors to reject Balico Technology Campus’ rezoning request for a proposed data center and power generation facility. The project, which has already faced significant community opposition, would convert nearly 750 acres of rural land into a heavy-use industrial zone, with mobile gas turbines supplying up to 300 megawatts of power.
Opponents, including residents and environmental advocates, argue that the development would permanently alter the county’s rural character, pose risks to water resources, and introduce air pollution concerns. Supporters, including the town of Hurt, highlight potential economic benefits, including funding for a new water treatment plant and community fire protection.
The final vote is set for March 18, marking a critical decision point for the project’s future and the region’s land use strategy.
Read The Full Article at GodanRiver
Mastering Data Center Incentives with Whit McGreevy and Tara Gorman
Womble Partners Whit McGreevy and Tara Gorman discuss the importance of early incentive negotiations, key factors in site selection, and the role of government approvals. They highlight how utility incentives, property tax abatements, job credits, and non-monetary benefits—such as expedited permitting and workforce training—can impact data center development. The conversation underscores the need for strategic planning, strong relationships with state and local officials, and a team approach to navigating regulatory and financial considerations.
Read The Full Piece at Womble Partners
Leesburg, VA Rejects Oaklawn Data Center Proposal
This week, the Leesburg Town Council voted against a rezoning request for a 165-acre mixed-use data center project in Oaklawn, Virginia. Proposed by Keane Enterprises, the development would have included two 450,000 sq ft data center buildings, 184 affordable housing units, and two parks.
Despite modifications to the plan—including replacing a substation with a park—council members cited noise concerns, limited job creation, and the project’s incompatibility with the surrounding area as reasons for denial. More than 25 residents opposed the plan, with some dismissing the landscaping efforts as mere cosmetic changes.
Leesburg’s decision comes amid growing scrutiny of data center expansions in Virginia, as state lawmakers consider new regulations to balance industry growth with community concerns.
Read The Full Article at Data Center Dynamics
Virginia’s Data Center Debate Heats Up as Lawmakers Weigh Regulations
As the Virginia General Assembly’s session concludes, data centers remain a key policy issue. While most proposed regulations failed, one new law requires developers to assess the impact of noise and energy infrastructure. Governor Youngkin has yet to weigh in but has supported the industry in the past.
Meanwhile, Dominion Energy will soon present its case to regulators on how to prevent rising energy costs for residents due to increased data center power demands. With lawmakers bracing for continued energy strain, the debate over industry regulations is set to intensify in the next legislative session.
Georgia Proposes Charging Data Centers for Power Use
Georgia lawmakers are advancing a bill requiring Georgia Power to directly charge data centers for infrastructure investments and costs associated with serving them. This move comes amid concerns over rising electricity rates and increasing demand driven largely by data centers.
The proposal, which has cleared a House committee, would prevent Georgia Power from passing these costs onto residential and small business customers. If approved by the full House, Senate, and governor, this legislation could reshape the financial landscape for data centers operating in the state.
