A transformative data center development is set to reshape the data infrastructure landscape in Georgia. Known as Project Sail, this ambitious initiative proposes a $17 billion data center campus covering 832 acres in Newnan, a city located 45 miles south of Atlanta. The project, backed by Atlas Development LLC, is poised to make significant strides in the region’s growing role as a major hub for data centers.
What is the Scope of Project Sail?
Project Sail envisions the construction of 13 state-of-the-art data halls, each with a substantial footprint of 378,000 square feet. Collectively, the data center campus will cover nearly 4.9 million square feet, making it one of the largest data center developments in the Southeastern United States.
The proposed site is strategically located in Coweta County, adjacent to Welcome Sargent Road and Wagers Mill Road, offering proximity to vital infrastructure and resources. With such a massive scale, this campus will likely become a critical player in supporting global data and cloud services operations, alongside a number of other data center facilities emerging in the Atlanta metro area.
Strategic Location Near Power Infrastructure
The location of Project Sail offers distinct advantages, especially concerning energy needs. The site’s proximity to the Plant Yates gas power station, operated by Georgia Power, positions the project well to tap into the station’s significant power generation capacity. Plant Yates can produce up to 700MW of power, an essential resource for a project of this magnitude. While specific details about the energy sourcing for the campus have yet to be disclosed, the proximity to a major power facility is a key consideration for the successful operation of this data center.
The Economic Impact of Project Sail
With an estimated construction cost of $17 billion, Project Sail is expected to bring substantial economic benefits to the region. According to the submitted Development of Regional Impact (DRI) filing, the project will generate approximately $1.6 billion in tax revenue each year. This economic boost will extend beyond just the construction phase, contributing to the long-term financial health of Coweta County and surrounding areas.
As a major economic driver, the data center campus will attract additional investments, create local jobs, and spur development in the surrounding infrastructure. With the data center industry seeing explosive growth, especially in areas like Atlanta, the economic ripple effects could be felt across multiple sectors, from real estate to technology and utilities.
Who is Atlas Development LLC?
Atlas Development LLC, the company behind Project Sail, was incorporated in 2017 and is relatively low-profile in terms of its public-facing presence. The company’s website currently only features a holding page, with little additional information readily available. Despite the limited visibility, Atlas Development’s ambitious plans for Newnan reflect its commitment to shaping the future of data infrastructure in Georgia.
Atlanta: A Growing Data Center Hub
Atlanta has rapidly evolved into one of the most prominent data center hubs in the Southeastern United States. Companies like Digital Realty, CoreSite, Switch, Google, Microsoft, and Flexential are already actively developing or operating data centers in the area, particularly in regions like Lithia Springs and Douglasville. This influx of tech giants highlights the area’s increasing importance in the global data ecosystem.
In recent months, the momentum has only continued to build, with Stack Infrastructure filing to expand its operations with two additional data centers outside Atlanta, while Steam also plans a massive 240MW campus in nearby Douglas County. Project Sail, with its sheer scale and investment, further cements Atlanta’s growing position as a data center powerhouse.
What Does Project Sail Mean for the Data Center Industry?
For the data center industry, Project Sail represents a bold step forward. As data and cloud service demands continue to surge worldwide, there is a critical need for large-scale data centers capable of supporting high-performance computing, edge computing, and data storage solutions. Project Sail’s proposed 13-building campus, each with a massive data hall, will provide ample space for cloud providers, tech companies, and telecoms to expand their operations in the region.
The development will also benefit from the significant tax revenue expected to be generated, which could spur further investment into data infrastructure and related technologies. This is particularly important as the tech sector seeks more reliable, cost-effective, and energy-efficient solutions to meet increasing data demands.
Potential Challenges and Considerations
While the project holds great promise, there are potential hurdles. One of the key considerations will be the rezoning approval process, as the land currently remains undeveloped. Atlas Development has submitted its request to the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, but securing this approval could take time. Furthermore, as the project progresses, there will be increased attention on its environmental impact, particularly regarding energy consumption and carbon emissions. Ensuring that the campus adheres to sustainability goals could be a critical factor in its success and acceptance.
FAQ Section
1. What is Project Sail?
Project Sail is a proposed $17 billion data center campus in Newnan, Georgia, which will feature 13 data halls across 832 acres. It aims to meet the growing demand for data storage and cloud services in the Atlanta metro area.
2. Why is Project Sail significant for Atlanta?
The project will further solidify Atlanta’s position as a major data center hub. It will support tech companies, cloud providers, and telecoms, while contributing significant tax revenue and job creation to the region.
3. How will Project Sail be powered?
While the details of energy sourcing are not fully disclosed, the site is located near the Plant Yates gas power station, which produces 700MW of power. This proximity could play a key role in supporting the campus’s energy needs.
4. How will Project Sail benefit the local economy?
The project is expected to generate $1.6 billion in annual tax revenue and create local jobs, contributing to the economic growth of Coweta County and surrounding areas.
5. Who is behind Project Sail?
Atlas Development LLC, a relatively new player in the development space, is leading the project. The company was incorporated in 2017 and has submitted a Development of Regional Impact filing to the Georgia Department of Community Affairs.
