$5 Billion AI Data Center Threatens Historic Family Cemetery—What Happens Next Will Shock You!

As artificial intelligence (AI) companies rush to establish the infrastructure for the next generation of technology, data centers are sprouting across the United States, often finding homes in rural communities unequipped to handle such large-scale industrial developments. These projects, which can arrive with little warning, are raising concerns among local residents about their impact on the environment and property values.

One notable example is Project Ruby, a proposed $5.18 billion, 650-megawatt hyperscale data center set to occupy a 15-acre property in Muscogee County, Georgia. The land has been in Debbie Jackson’s family since the mid-1800s and is home to a cemetery containing 22 graves. Jackson learned about the project only in February, and since then, she has been grappling with worries about fire safety, noise pollution, light pollution, water contamination, and the potential decrease in her property value.

“It’s all very up in the air,” Jackson told the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer.

For homeowners like Jackson, the reality is that options for intervention diminish significantly once a project receives approval. When a large development is proposed, community members often instinctively decide to “wait and see.” However, as Howard Jacobson, chief operating officer at Stronglast Builders, explains, “If the local municipality process for approval has been followed and completed, the best opportunity for challenging the data center has passed.” The approval process usually consists of several steps, including zoning hearings, special use permits, and land development plans, where residents can voice their concerns and objections.

Once the project clears these hurdles, the remaining options for neighbors are limited to costly litigation, which is rarely successful if the developer and municipality have adhered to proper procedures. Jacobson notes, “A judge may temporarily delay implementation of an approved land use to allow the litigants to present their cases, but local municipality land-use decisions generally are difficult to reverse.” However, litigation can sometimes create enough public pressure to compel developers to make minor concessions, such as expanding buffer zones or enhancing noise mitigation efforts. In Jackson’s case, the local planning commission already voted 5-1 to increase Project Ruby’s proposed buffer from 75 feet to 500 feet, although Jackson feels this change is inadequate.

In instances where a project involves federal funding, residents may have more avenues for recourse. Jillian Hishaw, an agricultural and land-use attorney and author of "Systematic Land Theft," states, “When the development is funded with private money, the studies and assessments are bypassed— with federal money, you can litigate.” Despite this potential pathway, recent changes to federal regulations have complicated matters. A 2025 executive order now allows federal projects to bypass environmental assessments, further limiting local residents’ power.

The Property Value Dilemma

For many homeowners, the immediate concern regarding data centers isn’t necessarily legal; it’s financial. The question looms: what impact will a massive industrial facility have on home values? The truth is that definitive answers remain elusive, as the data center boom is still in its infancy, and clear patterns have yet to emerge. Hishaw predicts that property values near these facilities may decline over time, especially as the cumulative effects on natural resources become apparent.

“It is too early to tell,” she says, “but I predict in a few years, it will drive the value of the land down because there will be no more natural resources to farm or live on.”

Jackson herself is weighing her options, including the possibility of selling her home. Her situation is complicated by an $800 monthly mortgage that runs through 2044, and she believes the presence of the data center will inevitably diminish her property value.

For homeowners in similar situations, it may be useful to look at the historical impact of existing industrial neighbors—such as power plants, distribution centers, and cell towers—which have generally shown to decrease adjacent residential values, often more severely based on proximity.

So what can homeowners do now? If you live in an area where data center development is on the rise—particularly in rural communities across the South and Midwest, including Georgia, Texas, and Ohio—the most effective strategy is to act before a project enters the permitting phase. Monitoring local zoning meetings is essential. Most land-use battles take place at the municipal level, often before residents are even aware a project is being proposed. Jacobson emphasizes, “The zoning process is the primary means by which citizens can obtain information about and challenge any rezoning, special-use permit, or land-development plan.”

Being proactive is also key. Homeowners should assess what lies on their property before a developer arrives. Jackson’s property is challenged further by a historic family cemetery and a belief that there may be unmarked Indigenous graves. Hishaw advises homeowners in similar situations to request an archaeological survey before permits are approved and to reach out to the state historic preservation office, as well as the Bureau of Indian Affairs if Indigenous remains are involved. If the land is recognized as sacred and part of the national registry, it could pose a legitimate obstacle for developers.

Furthermore, utilizing Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests can reveal what environmental assessments have been conducted and whether the developer has received any waivers, as privately funded projects often bypass necessary studies. Hishaw is in the process of finalizing a model policy document to assist landowners in navigating planning and zoning meetings, illustrating the widespread nature of these issues.

For Debbie Jackson and many homeowners facing similar challenges, the time for intervention is critical. While the project has not yet received final approval, the procedural steps continue to move forward, closing the window for meaningful community engagement. The lesson for those observing the data center boom is clear: proactive participation at the earliest stages is essential. Homeowners who engage early in the process will have a far greater chance of influencing outcomes than those who wait until after permits are signed.