Grace Okafor
Candidate for U.S. House · Georgia District 7. Party: Independent.
Campaign website: graceokafor2026.com. Linking to a campaign website is not an endorsement.
Answers on data centers
Written by the candidate and published exactly as submitted. We do not edit, shorten or correct these answers.
Disclosure
Before a data center is approved, what should the public be entitled to know about it?
The operator and general use category, with business specifics allowed to stay proprietary
Cost allocation
When a data center requires grid or infrastructure upgrades, who should bear the cost?
A defined split between the company and ratepayers
Tax incentives
How should tax abatements or incentives for data centers be handled?
Negotiated by staff, then disclosed once finalized
Accountability
If a data center fails to meet conditions set during approval or operation, what response do you favor?
Enforce the penalties already written into the permit
Pace
What is the right pace for data center development in your community?
It depends on the county. Where water and grid capacity are already strained, pause. Where they are not, approve case by case under clear standards.
Water (supply and quality)
Which approach do you support for a proposed data center's impact on water?
Hold a public hearing and weigh the evidence case by case, with no presumption for or against
Land and farmland
Which approach do you support for a proposed data center's impact on land and farmland?
Hold a public hearing and weigh the evidence case by case, with no presumption for or against
Air quality and emissions
Which approach do you support for a proposed data center's impact on air quality?
Hold a public hearing and weigh the evidence case by case, with no presumption for or against
Noise
Which approach do you support for a proposed data center's impact from noise?
Hold a public hearing and weigh the evidence case by case, with no presumption for or against
Community character and quality of life
Which approach do you support for a proposed data center's impact on community character and quality of life?
Hold a public hearing and weigh the evidence case by case, with no presumption for or against
Disaster accountability
Scientists have found the increase in extreme disasters like wildfires and floods are in fact created by polluting and negligent industries, so how would you hold them accountable for the costs?
Ensure that the state creates a fund to allow industries to pay into a fund for disaster mitigation, if they choose to
Recovery aid equity
What would you do to ensure that government recovery aid is based on people's need for support, rather than who has wealth and influence?
Increase reporting mechanisms to communities to highlight aid assistance in different places
Clean energy access
What would you do to ensure communities have reliable access to cheaper and cleaner energy choices?
Invest in more renewable and clean energy projects, if the overall investments make sense
Disaster resilience
What will you do to keep the lights on, the water running, and the roads open before a disaster strikes rather than just responding after?
Hold a public hearing to weigh what the priorities are and decide which infrastructure project should be considered most important for disaster planning
Energy affordability
Given the rising price of energy and the number of people trading off rent and food for utility bills, how do we give everyone the dignity of being able to afford their energy bills?