Development

Executive Summary

This white paper presents a comprehensive analysis of a 1,354-acre site located between Albany

and Leesburg in Lee County, Georgia, assessing its suitability for developing a self-sufficient,

secure artificial intelligence data center. The analysis examines physical characteristics, natural

resources, infrastructure capabilities, economic incentives, and security considerations to

determine the site's viability for supporting advanced computing operations with minimal

reliance on external systems.

The findings indicate that the Albany-Lee County site offers several compelling advantages:

abundant water resources from the Floridan aquifer for cooling applications, strong solar

This analysis concludes that the site represents a feasible and strategically advantageous

location for AI data center development, particularly for operations prioritizing security,

self-sufficiency, and long-term operational stability.

1. Introduction and Site Overview

The subject property encompasses 1,354 acres located approximately 5 miles north of Albany,

The site is positioned in Southwest Georgia's Lee County, within the broader Albany

Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), which comprises Dougherty, Lee, Worth, Terrell, and

Baker counties. Key regional features include:

● Albany as the commercial and industrial hub of Southwest Georgia

● Lee County as a rapidly growing county with a 15.83% population increase from 2010 to

2020

● Proximity to Interstate 75 (approximately 40-45 miles to east via 4-lane highways)

● Multiple higher education institutions including Albany State University, Albany

Technical College, and Georgia Southwestern State University

● Rural setting providing natural security buffer while maintaining quality of life for

employees

● Regional stability with consistent governance and economic development priorities

2. Natural Resources Assessment

The site has exceptional access to water resources critical for data center cooling operations:

2.1.1 Floridan Aquifer System

● The property sits above the Upper Floridan aquifer, one of the most productive

groundwater systems in the United States

● Albany was historically known as the "Artesian City" due to its abundant groundwater

resources

demonstrating its industrial suitability

● Radium Springs, located in East Albany, produces more water than any single spring in

Florida's Silver Springs system, highlighting the regional water abundance

● Studies have shown that the aquifer system has substantial recharge rates in this region

2.1.3 Water Management Considerations

● The site's location in a karst geological region requires careful water management

practices

● Closed-loop cooling systems would be recommended to protect groundwater resources

● Regional water monitoring systems are already in place through the USGS and local

authorities

feasibility

● Geothermal cooling systems could reduce HVAC energy consumption by 30-50%

compared to conventional cooling systems

2.2.2 Implementation Considerations

● Based on geological assessments, closed-loop geothermal systems are most appropriate

for this application

● The consistent subsurface temperatures (approximately 50-70°F at relevant depths)

provide year-round cooling potential

● While not suitable for power generation, the geothermal resources are excellent for

direct cooling applications

2.3.2 Existing Regional Precedent

● A 173.96-megawatt solar project already exists in Albany on approximately 800 acres

with over 541,000 solar panels

● This established project demonstrates the viability of large-scale solar in the immediate

area

● The flat topography of the site is ideal for solar array deployment

2.3.3 Generation Capacity Potential

● Conservative estimates suggest that utilizing 600-700 acres of the site could generate

150-175 MW of solar capacity

● This would be sufficient to power a substantial data center operation during daylight

hours

● Wind would not be recommended as a primary energy source for the facility

3. Infrastructure Capabilities

3.1.1 Current Regional Capacity

● Albany Utilities has substantial power generation capacity, with approximately 233

megawatts available through their purchase power agreements with the Municipal

Electric Authority of Georgia (MEAG) and Southeastern Power Administration Agency

(SEPA)

● The power is generated from a diverse portfolio including natural gas, coal, nuclear

energy, and renewable hydropower

● Georgia's electrical grid is generally reliable, though severe weather events including

hurricanes and tornadoes can cause outages

● The site's rural location offers space for substantial backup power systems

● The size of the property allows for substantial on-site solar generation

3.2.1 Current Regional Connectivity

● Albany Utilities operates a municipal fiber network with legal authority to operate in Lee

County through an intergovernmental agreement approved in 2016

● Multiple commercial fiber providers serve the area, including AT&T Fiber (offering

gigabit speeds) and Windstream

● Enterprise-level fiber services are available at industrial sites in the region

3.2.2 Bandwidth and Redundancy

● AT&T Georgia's fiber optic service is capable of accommodating enterprise bandwidth

requirements

● The presence of multiple providers creates potential for redundant fiber routes

● Albany Utilities' telecommunications division offers an additional option for connectivity

3.2.3 Future Expansion Plans

● A major fiber expansion project is underway through a partnership between Sumter

including Lee County

● This expansion will improve the overall telecommunications infrastructure in the region

3.3.1 Highway Connectivity

highways connecting to Interstate 75

● Albany is approximately 41.3 miles from I-75 at Tifton (50 minutes) and 42.7 miles from

I-75 at Cordele (48 minutes)

3.3.2 Rail Infrastructure

● Active rail line running through the property offers potential for equipment delivery

● The rail infrastructure connects to regional and national networks

● Foundation designs would likely require specialized approaches such as mat foundations

or deep piles

● Partial berming rather than deep underground construction would provide a more

feasible approach

underground construction

● This approach would also mitigate risks associated with the karst geology

● Temperature stability benefits could still be achieved through partial earth sheltering

5. Georgia Department of Community Affairs. (2024). "Federal Opportunity Zones."

Retrieved from

https://dca.georgia.gov/financing-tools/incentives/federal-opportunity-zones

http://www.lee.ga.us/about/index.html

8. New Georgia Encyclopedia. (2013). "Marine Corps Logistics Base, Albany." Retrieved

from

https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/government-politics/marine-corps-logisti

11. U.S. Geological Survey. (n.d.). "Geology of the Albany West quadrangle, Georgia."

Retrieved from https://www.usgs.gov/maps/geology-albany-west-quadrangle-georgia

12. WINDExchange. (2024). "Georgia 30-Meter Residential-Scale Wind Resource Map."