Family says they're forced to sell home to help power data centers

Family members in Georgia say they've been forced to sell their homes to help supply energy to new data centers, according to reports from local media. The situation involves a dispute over land acquisition by Georgia Power, a major utility company, as it seeks to expand its infrastructure to meet rising energy demands driven by the growth of artificial intelligence technology. Georgia Power is constructing a new transmission line that it claims is necessary to address the strain on the current electrical grid. The project requires the purchase of more than 300 parcels of land, many of them residential properties. According to the utility, approximately 70 to 80 percent of the electricity carried by the new line will be used to power data centers, while the remainder will support residential and commercial needs. This shift reflects the increasing reliance on data centers, which are central to advancements in artificial intelligence and other digital technologies. One affected homeowner, Ansley Brown, described her family’s emotional struggle. Her childhood home, which she said was built when she was five or six years old, is among the properties targeted for acquisition. “It's ours,” she told CBS News. “It's our family. We belong here.” For Brown, the loss represents more than just a financial setback, it symbolizes the erosion of generational wealth that her mother had hoped would endure for future generations. Brown explained that her mother reached an agreement with Georgia Power to sell the property. Without such an agreement, the utility could have pursued eminent domain, a legal mechanism allowing government entities to seize private property for public use, typically with compensation. Brown called the process “theft,” arguing that large corporations like Georgia Power are using their economic power to displace individuals who lack the resources to resist. “This is a billion-dollar company stealing land from smaller people, people who can’t fight back,” she said. “We don’t have the money to fight Georgia Power.” Georgia Power issued a statement through spokesperson Holly Lovett, emphasizing that eminent domain is a last resort and that the company strives to resolve disputes through negotiation. “We feel as if we’ve done the process responsibly,” Lovett said. However, Brown and others involved in the case disagree, asserting that the impact on communities and the environment has been severe. Brown has shared her experience on social media platforms like TikTok, raising awareness about similar cases affecting other residents. While she acknowledges that her home may already be lost, she hopes to prevent further displacement by highlighting the broader implications of the project. “My mom wants an apology,” she said. “She wants an apology from Georgia Power. That’s it.” Georgia Power declined to comment directly on whether it would issue an apology, instead stating that it has prioritized transparency and cooperation throughout the process. The company did not disclose specific information about the companies operating the data centers, citing concerns related to safety and security. The controversy underscores the growing tension between technological expansion and individual rights, particularly in regions experiencing rapid industrialization. As the demand for data center infrastructure continues to rise, so too does the need for balanced approaches that consider both economic progress and the well-being of local communities.