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The vote followed hours of public comment, with many residents opposing the amendment and urging leaders to slow the process.

PORT WENTWORTH, Ga. —

Port Wentworth City Council voted Thursday to approve a zoning ordinance amendment that could allow data centers in the city, despite calls from dozens of residents to delay the decision.

The vote followed hours of public comment, much of it focused on how quickly the proposal moved forward, its potential impact on local utilities and whether the ordinance includes sufficient safeguards if a project is proposed.

Data centers are facilities filled with computer servers that store and process information for services such as streaming, banking, online shopping and artificial intelligence. Because they operate around the clock, they can require significant amounts of electricity and other resources.

City leaders opened the discussion with a presentation outlining the purpose of the amendment. The city explained the change is intended to put protective measures in place and does not approve a data center.

They said the ordinance change was meant to define a data center and provide rules that could be enforced if a company were to propose one.

City Manager Steve Davis conducted the presentation, addressing prior resident concerns, including environmental impacts and utility strains.

“There should be no impact whatsoever from the water resources to the general public,” Davis said.

Several residents raised concerns about the proposal, with some opposing the ordinance outright and others calling for more time, clearer information and stronger protections before it moved forward.

“It seems to be going really fast, which makes me uncomfortable — like some conversations are happening without the public knowing,” attendee Lindsey Donovan said.

Davis also addressed what he described as the “risk of waiting.” One presentation slide stated that if “a data center request is brought forth, without this amendment, the city and its residents would have no means of enforcing protective measures.”

Council member Artlise Alston-Cone urged the council to slow the process and revisit the proposal.

“The way we have our ordinance written is not sufficient,” Alston-Cone said.

The ordinance passed over Alston-Cone’s objections. As the meeting concluded, some residents expressed frustration with the council’s decision.

City officials reiterated that the zoning amendment does not approve a specific data center project and that additional reviews and approvals would be required before any facility could move forward.

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PORT WENTWORTH, Ga. — The Port Wentworth City Council voted Thursday to pass an amendment defining data centers and establishing rules for their size, location and number within city limits, despite vocal opposition from residents.

The proposed amendment puts more rules and procedures for data centers in place before plans could be accepted. It also mandates that data centers be at least 500 feet away from residential areas.

City Manager Steve Davis said the city made changes to the amendment following an earlier planning and zoning meeting, saying the city had taken citizens’ concerns to heart.

“The staff took those comments in, we talked with some of the council members, and made some modification,” Davis said.

Residents voice concerns

Residents raised concerns about water use, noise disruption, traffic and taxes, saying all would increase with the adoption of the rezoning.

“No one comes up and says, ‘yes! I want it, its a great idea… why,’” one resident said.

Another resident criticized the process, saying, “Listening does not mean hearing concerns and rushing to amend policies behind closed doors.”

A third resident questioned the financial benefits, saying, “Without the proper factual information on how much revenue it will generate for Port Wentworth, its all skeptical.”

City defends decision

The city said it has done its homework, with intentions to increase the buffer and limit options to avoid residential areas, increase property tax expectations, and saying the center will have next to zero water impact.

Even with the changes, residents remained opposed to the amendment.

“I appreciate the power point, I learned some stuff from there that I didn’t know before but I still haven’t changed my mind,” one resident said.

Another asked the council to “pause on, do not vote on a rewritten language tonight, bring it back to proper channels, so that the public and community have a real chance to engage.”

The city ultimately chose to vote for the amendment, saying it will give them more control on what data centers can and cannot do if they choose to settle in Port Wentworth.

The city said it is not currently in contract with any specific data centers but that data corporations are looking at places across Chatham and Effingham County.

Concerns about data center growth are emerging across the state, including in Port Wentworth, where city leaders are considering zoning changes that could allow such facilities.

PORT WENTWORTH, Ga. —

Georgia Power is asking state regulators to approve what it calls one of the largest electricity expansions in Georgia history, citing surging demand from data centers that run around the clock to support streaming, banking, online shopping and artificial intelligence.

The Georgia Public Service Commission is scheduled to vote Dec. 19 on whether to allow the utility to spend about $15 billion over the next six years to increase electric system capacity by roughly 50%.

Georgia Power says the proposal would help meet “unprecedented growth” while keeping power affordable. The company says large energy users would pay higher rates under the plan, which it argues would reduce the average residential bill by about $102 a year after new base rates are set in 2028.

Data centers house computer servers that store and process online information and typically require significant electricity and constant cooling to prevent equipment from overheating. Goldman Sachs Research has forecast that global power demand from data centers will rise 165% from 2023 to 2030.

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Critics, however, say customers could be left carrying long-term costs and risks, especially if the plan leads to additional fossil fuel infrastructure.

“The real question at hand is who benefits from the growth — and who bears the cost of the growth,” said Alicia Johnson, the Democratic commissioner-elect for the PSC. Johnson will not take office until after the vote. She said the proposal warrants closer scrutiny to ensure Georgians are not “saddled” with higher bills and added risk.

Johnson also warned that building more fossil fuel assets could lock customers into paying for them for decades, limiting flexibility and future clean energy options.

Concerns about data center growth are also emerging in Port Wentworth, where city leaders are considering zoning changes that could allow such facilities.

“They use a lot of the resources that are available and put an incredible strain on the electrical infrastructure,” said resident Ginny Hines, who also raised environmental concerns because of the city’s proximity to the Savannah River.

“We need to have the problems that already exist to be addressed prior to bringing in even more burdens on the infrastructure,” Hines said.

Republican PSC members Tim Echols and Chairman Jason Shaw declined interview requests, citing restrictions on commenting ahead of the commission’s vote.

The PSC’s decision could shape Georgia’s energy system for decades.

November 21, 2025 - The City of Port Wentworth’s Economic Development Authority announces its annual economic outlook luncheon that will explore the current landscape and future opportunities in our region. “The 2026 Outlook: Economics. Politics. Business.” is slated for 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 17 at the Georgia Tech Savannah Campus, 210 Technology Circle.

Hosted by the Port Wentworth Development Authority, this insightful event will feature renowned economist Dr. Roger Tutterow, who will provide an in-depth analysis of economic trends, potential challenges, and growth prospects. Attendees will also enjoy a catered lunch, making this event a perfect opportunity to connect with local leaders while savoring a delicious meal.

“We are grateful to be hosting such an esteemed speaker at our event this year,” said James Touchton, City of Port Wentworth Director of Economic Development. “Together, we are paving the way for a brighter economic future, making Port Wentworth the ideal place to live, experience, and thrive.”

Dr. Roger Tutterow is one of Georgia’s most respected and engaging economic voices. He serves as Professor of Economics at Kennesaw State University, where he holds the Henssler Financial Endowed Chair and directs The Econometric Center in the Coles College of Business. His research and analysis of economic, business, and political trends have been featured in leading national outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Forbes, USA Today, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Los Angeles Times, and Bloomberg Television. He is a frequent guest on CNN, CNBC, NPR, and Marketplace, where his clarity and insight help audiences understand complex market forces with precision and relevance. Beyond academia, Dr. Tutterow serves as a trusted consultant in financial economics and statistical modeling, providing expertise to clients ranging from Fortune 500 corporations to privately held firms. He has provided expert testimony before state and federal courts, the Georgia General Assembly, and the Georgia Public Service Commission. Dr. Tutterow’s influence extends well beyond the classroom. He was appointed by Governor Sonny Perdue and reappointed by Governor Nathan Deal to the Governor’s Council of Economic Advisors, served on Georgia’s Special Council on Tax Reform and Fairness, and continues his service on the Georgia Child Support Commission and Cobb County Pension Board.

Seating for this luncheon is limited. To register, please click here. For more information about the City of Port Wentworth, visit www.portwentworthga.gov.

Couple alleges apartment complex refuses to take responsibility for mold that made them sick

PORT WENTWORTH, Ga. (WTOC) -A Port Wentworth family says mold in their apartment made them sick and forced them to move out, leaving them with $20,000 in damages they claim their former apartment complex refuses to cover.

Malachi Singleton and his family lived at the Palisades at Rice Hope apartments before the mold issue forced them out. The couple has a young child and another baby on the way.

“They were willing to send a family with a toddler and a pregnant wife, a pregnant woman, back into a unit that they knew it was molded,” Singleton said.

The family first noticed small amounts of mold in their apartment. The problem escalated in September when they went on vacation for five days.

“By the time we got back, the mold was so aggressive that it was growing on things. And so at that point, when we came back, my daughter and I both got really sick,” Singleton said.

Singleton alerted apartment staff, who he claims said they would test the apartment.

“They looked at our couch. They looked at some of our other things, but they looked noticeably at our furniture. And they said it looked like it was just water damaged and that we should just clean it off,” Singleton said.

The family hired their own testing company, which found different results.

“When there’s more mold content in the apartment than there is in the air outside, at that point, the apartment, the unit is deemed uninhabitable,” Singleton said.

He says the report explained the health problems they experienced.

“When we read the report, everything made sense. Because all of the mold in there caused breathing problems, allergy problems, and then the mold was also consistent with other buildings that have water damage,” Singleton said.

The mold damage cost the family more than $20,000 in damages. They had renters’ insurance but faced pushback due to proof requirements over what caused the mold.

“We know we may not recoup all of that,” Singleton said.

The family says apartment managers promised to return their security deposit.

“We do have that in writing, but they never gave that back to us,” Singleton said.

WTOC called The Palisades at Rice Hope Apartments, who directed inquiries to SouthWood Realty, their corporate owner. A corporate representative claimed the family never reached out to them.

The family says they have been going back and forth with the company and were directed to a regional manager but only reached voicemail.

The family has created a GoFundMe page to help with expenses.