Metro Atlanta’s transformation into America’s hottest data center market accelerates as developers propose multiple massive facilities, reshaping the region’s economic and infrastructure landscape.
A wave of unprecedented data center development is washing over metro Atlanta, with proposals for massive facilities that would dwarf the region’s largest shopping malls and potentially strain local utility resources.
Atlanta emerged as the country’s top data center market for leasing activity in 2024, dethroning Northern Virginia for the first time, according to real estate services firm CBRE. The net amount of leased data center space in Atlanta increased by 706 megawatts last year, 56% more than Northern Virginia during the same period.
Among the largest proposals is a sprawling 1.9 million square foot campus known as the Stonewall Tell Data Center in Union City. RSC Investment Management filed a Developments of Regional Impact application with the Georgia Department of Community Affairs for the project, which is planned along Stonewall Tell Road, south of South Fulton Parkway. The massive development is set to be completed by 2033, according to the filing.
Even more ambitious is the recently revealed “Project Sail” in Coweta County. The preliminary plans, unveiled on New Year’s Eve, call for a 13-building data center campus with each warehouse spanning 378,000 square feet. The entire project would encompass more than 4.9 million square feet—more than twice the floorspace of the Mall of Georgia. Proposed by Atlas Development LLC, the project is estimated to be worth $17 billion when fully complete by the end of 2036.
East of Atlanta, TPA Group has proposed another mega-facility. The Newton County Technology Park would include nine buildings across 317 acres in Newton County, with a projected value of $5 billion. The campus would span nearly 2.6 million square feet—approximately 50% larger than the floor space inside the Mall of Georgia—and is expected to be completed by 2031.
These proposals join numerous others, including Vantage Data Centers’ plans for two large warehouses in South Fulton that would combine for nearly 1.5 million square feet of data center space.
The surge in development comes as demand for digital storage continues to grow, driven largely by artificial intelligence and cloud computing needs. Atlanta’s popularity has been boosted by the availability of power at a time when other markets—especially Northern Virginia—face constraints on utility capacity due to transmission challenges.
However, the rapid expansion has raised concerns about infrastructure strain. Data centers consume “staggering” amounts of energy, according to Public Service Commission Chairman Jason Shaw. In response, the commission recently approved new Georgia Power rules for high-energy customers to ensure “existing Georgia Power customers will be spared additional costs associated with adding these large-load customers to the grid.”
Some communities have also voiced opposition to these developments. In neighboring Fayette County, a major QTS Data Centers project recently prompted protests over the impact overhead power lines would have on neighbors, as reported by Bloomberg.
Despite these concerns, Georgia officials have largely welcomed the industry. Last year, after the Georgia General Assembly passed legislation that would have revoked a lucrative tax break for data centers, Governor Brian Kemp vetoed the bill following aggressive industry lobbying efforts.
With nearly 2,160 megawatts worth of data center development currently under construction across metro Atlanta—more than double the size of data centers currently operating in the area—the region’s transformation shows no signs of slowing, solidifying its position as a critical hub in America’s digital infrastructure.