Joseph Mbeki
Candidate for Georgia State House · District 31. Party: Democrat.
Campaign website: josephmbeki.org. 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 end user/tenant, what the facility will power, and who it serves
Cost allocation
When a data center requires grid or infrastructure upgrades, who should bear the cost?
The data center, through dedicated rates or direct payment
Tax incentives
How should tax abatements or incentives for data centers be handled?
Disclosed in full and approved by public vote before any agreement
Accountability
If a data center fails to meet conditions set during approval or operation, what response do you favor?
Revoke or withhold permits and approvals
Pace
What is the right pace for data center development in your community?
Approve case by case under current rules
Water (supply and quality)
Which approach do you support for a proposed data center's impact on water?
The company must prove, through public hearing, comment, and independent research, that water impacts do not change the quantity and quality considerably, if it can't, the project is denied
Land and farmland
Which approach do you support for a proposed data center's impact on land and farmland?
The company must prove, through public hearing, comment, and independent research, that the land impacts do not significantly disrupt current land use, and stays within an acceptable limit as defined by constituents, if it can't, the project is denied
Air quality and emissions
Which approach do you support for a proposed data center's impact on air quality?
Require continuous air monitoring at the fence line, published online, for any site that runs backup diesel generators. The permit decision should follow that data.
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?
The company must prove, through public hearing, comment, and independent research, that these impacts will not broadly disrupt current enjoyment of residents, if it can't, the project is denied
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?
The company must pay for their costs that are associated with increases in climate-related disasters in the area
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?
There must be additional reporting and appeal mechanisms for discrimination in recovery aids at the state and local levels
Clean energy access
What would you do to ensure communities have reliable access to cheaper and cleaner energy choices?
Wind down fossil fuel use and invest in renewable energy projects
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?
Ensure comprehensive and culturally-sensitive disaster cycle planning as well as increasing staffing for emergency management operations
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?
Ensure that companies pay more into rising utility costs, bring only renewable energy sources, as well as carefully deliberate each new large load energy project to ensure it is an actual benefit to communities