Power
Power and the grid
Getting on the grid
- No electric utility is named for the campus in the sources: trade reports have described Georgia Power service, but Covington runs its own municipal electric system as a MEAG Power member, and neither is confirmed. Dataset · Oct. 2026
- No Georgia utility commission contract filing for the campus was found as of Oct. 2026, although Georgia Power contracts with customers over 100 MW must now be reviewed before signing. News report · Oct. 2026
- No MW figure has been disclosed on any basis; the generator count is not a capacity figure. News report · Oct. 2026
Permits
Permits checklist
1 contested · 1 pending · 1 draft · 1 granted · 1 checked, nothing on file
State, county and city actions on record.
- !Annexation of about 520.5 acres into Covington ContestedCity of Covington and Newton County · May 6, 2025: county objected 3-1 and started the state dispute process News report · May 2025
- ◷Development of Regional Impact review PendingGeorgia Department of Community Affairs · March 2025: filed by Universal Planning LLC; outcome not found News report · March 2025
- ◷Air permit, 321 emergency generators DraftGeorgia Environmental Protection Division · Sept. 19, 2025: draft permit on the Sept. 19, 2025 application State agency · Sept. 2025
- ✓Water and wastewater service agreement GrantedCovington City Council · Dec. 15, 2025: with minimum demand charges and escrow funding Local government · Dec. 2025
- –Checked, nothing on file: Tax abatement
Risks
What could slow it down
- MediumAnnexation disputeNewton County objected to the annexation tied to the campus; no arbitration outcome or final city vote has been found. see Permits
- MediumPower source unknownNo electric utility, service contract or MW figure is on record for the campus. Local government · Oct. 2026
- WatchWater worriesResidents warned about the Lake Varner drinking-water supply; county staff estimated about 360,000 gallons a day of discharge. News report · May 2025
- WatchAir permit still a draftThe air permit for 321 diesel generators is in draft form. see Permits
Money
Money on record
$100M
water-reuse and cooling plant
Amazon funds and builds; city owns (press) News report · Dec. 2025
$80M
local infrastructure over five years
press account of the Dec. 2025 approvals News report · Dec. 2025
Timeline
What happened, and what is due
SitePaper trailConstructionPowerPermitsMoneyLegalUpcoming
- Jan. 2024Site AWS buys 430 acres along I-20 in Covington for $36M (press) News report · Jan. 2024
- March 2025Permits Universal Planning LLC files a regional review for the Gregory Road Data Center News report · March 2025
- May 6, 2025Permits Newton County objects to Covington's annexation, 3-1 with one abstention, and starts the dispute process News report · May 2025
- Sept. 19, 2025Permits Amazon applies for a state air permit for 321 diesel emergency generators; a draft follows State agency · Sept. 2025
- Dec. 15, 2025Money City Council unanimously approves four agreements, including Amazon's $100M water-reuse plant News report · Dec. 2025
- Dec. 18, 2025Site AWS confirms the project is part of its $11B Georgia plan; Covington's share is not stated News report · Dec. 2025
- Aug. 11, 2026Permits Covington's rules for data-center applications require noise, power and water impact studies Local government · Aug. 2026
Construction activity
Building activity by quarter
Since Dec. 2025: 10 FAA filings (Dec. 2025 to March 2026): tallest crane 185 ft (March 2026).
FAA filings
’26
Dot size: records in the quarter, largest = 8. Two-digit years mark each first quarter.
The buildings
Specs
~6%
of the year cooling uses water; outside air the rest (company, via press)
Who is involved
Owners, partners and builders
Owners
- Amazon Data Services, Inc. (AWS): owner and operator
- Universal Planning LLC: filed the regional review
Decision-makers
- Covington City Council: annexation and water agreements
- Newton County Board of Commissioners: objected to the annexation
- Georgia Environmental Protection Division: air permit
Power partners
- City of Covington: water, wastewater and reuse water provider (no electric provider named)
Opponents
- Gregory Road residents who spoke against the project at the county in May 2025
Still unknown
Open questions
- Electric utility, contract and MW.
- Outcome of the annexation dispute.
- Construction start date.
Where this comes from
50 records from 12 documents
Drawn from news reports, state agency records, local government records and public and commercial datasets, each kept with its date and source. The bar shows documents by type.
News report 6State agency 2Local government 2Dataset 2
Evidence
Every quote behind this page
Grade key: A = the primary record itself (permit, filing, exhibit) · B = a dated official statement · C = news reporting. Map distances are our own measurements on OpenStreetMap and carry no grade. Allegations in lawsuits are marked as such in the quotes.
Power (6)
- Electric provider not established in retrieved primary sources. Trade reporting has described the campus as Georgia Power-served, but the City of Covington is itself a MEAG Power participant with a municipal electric dep“Commerce, Covington, Crisp County, Doerun, Douglas, East Point”Dataset · Oct. 2026 · grade B
- Covington has enacted data-center application requirements (ordinance section 16.20.195, copy hosted by Sustainable Newton, the local opposition / sustainability organisation): any rezoning, special use permit or plannin“The following planning-level materials shall be submitted with any rezoning, Special Use Permit, or other planning and zoning application for a data center:”Local government · Aug. 2026 · grade B
- Project status: in development - DRI filed Mar 2025; Newton County objected to the Covington annexation May 2025 (statutory dispute process); draft Georgia EPD air permit on a Sep 19, 2025 application; City of Covington“on December 15, 2025, the City approved a Water and Wastewater Capacity and Service Agreement with a customer for the provision of potable water, wastewater treatment, and reuse water services”Local government · Dec. 2025 · grade B
- Project status: announced / pre-construction - land held since Jan 2024, Gregory Road DRI filed Mar 2025, $100M City of Covington reclaimed-water agreement approved Dec 15, 2025; no AWS construction start or campus MW di“AWS confirmed that the project is part of the $11bn investment plan for Georgia announced at the start of the year”News report · Dec. 2025 · grade C
- Gregory Road residents opposed the campus at the May 2025 county meeting: resident Star Smith (581 Gregory Road) said the project would cut off Gregory Road and bring constant noise, light pollution, heavy traffic and 24“It would cut off Gregory Road, bring constant noise, light pollution, heavy traffic, and 24‑7 operation.”News report · May 2025 · grade C
- Applicant dri: Universal Planning LLC (Development of Regional Impact applicant, Gregory Road Data Center, Mar 2025)“a company known as Universal Planning LLC filed a Development of Regional Impact application this week with the Georgia Department of State Affairs for a data center campus known as the Gregory Road Data Center.”News report · March 2025 · grade C
Money and contracts (9)
- Water utility: City of Covington (potable water, wastewater and reuse water under the Dec 15, 2025 Capacity and Service Agreement)“the City approved a Water and Wastewater Capacity and Service Agreement with a customer for the provision of potable water, wastewater treatment, and reuse water services related to a planned industrial development.”Local government · Dec. 2025 · grade B
- Water and Wastewater Capacity and Service Agreement: water, wastewater and reuse-water service“The agreement includes long-term service commitments, minimum demand charges, and provisions for infrastructure improvements and escrow funding.”Local government · Dec. 2025 · grade B
- Covington sits just north of Butts County in Newton County“AWS confirmed that the project is part of the $11bn investment plan for Georgia announced at the start of the year, focused in Butts County and Douglas County.”News report · Dec. 2025 · grade C
- Reclaimed water (water reuse) facility agreement - part of the Dec 15, 2025 Covington approvals: reclaimed water facility funding and construction 100 USD millions“the city of Covington has struck a $100 million deal with Amazon to build a water reuse facility for its massive Alcovy Road data center.”News report · Dec. 2025 · grade C
- Infrastructure commitment - part of the Dec 15, 2025 Covington approvals: local infrastructure investment 80 USD millions“Amazon’s project, spanning 430 acres, will also pump $80 million into local infrastructure over the next five years.”News report · Dec. 2025 · grade C
- development / water services agreement: water treatment and cooling facility construction (reclaimed water system) 100 $M“the company has made a $100 million agreement with the city to construct a water treatment and cooling facility to support the data center.”News report · Dec. 2025 · grade C
- AWS is funding and building a reclaimed-water system for the Covington campus, preserving over 45 million gallons of freshwater annually once operational; cooling uses water only ~6% of the year, outside air the rest (Am“we are funding and building a first-of-its-kind reclaimed water system that will help preserve over 45 million gallons of freshwater annually once operational.”News report · Dec. 2025 · grade C
- Site acres dri: 213 acres“The Gregory Road Data Center project is described as a data center campus occupying “multiple buildings up to 1.41 million square feet” (130,993 sqm) on approximately 213 acres”News report · March 2025 · grade C
- Land acres owned: 430 acres“AWS previously acquired 430 acres of land along the I-20 across three deals in Covington for $36m in January 2024.”News report · Jan. 2024 · grade C
Permits and government (19)
- Project identity: AWS Covington campus (Gregory Road Data Center; Covington City Council agenda name 'Project Lighthouse'; Georgia EPD facility name 'Amazon Data Services, Inc. ATL089 Campus'), 11145 Alcovy Road, Covingt“Facility Name: Amazon Data Services, Inc. ATL089 Campus Facility Address: 11145 Alcovy Road Covington, Georgia 30054 Newton County”State agency · Sept. 2025 · grade A
- Draft permit for construction and operation of the Amazon Data Services ATL089 C: draft air quality permit on application dated September 19, 2025“Construction and operation of a data center with 321 dieselfueled emergency generators that will provide electricity in the event of an emergency.”State agency · Sept. 2025 · grade A
- FAA obstruction evaluation (7460-1): Determined - No Hazard“ASN 2026-ASO-4568-OE: Crane Operating Zone - Amazon Data Center, Crane, 185 ft AGL, 1008 ft AMSL, 33.63634,-83.82254, Determined - No Hazard, submitted 2026-03-03”FAA · March 2026 · grade B
- FAA obstruction evaluation (7460-1): Determined - No Hazard“ASN 2026-ASO-4569-OE: Crane Operating Zone - Amazon Data Center, Crane, 185 ft AGL, 1008 ft AMSL, 33.64006,-83.82253, Determined - No Hazard, submitted 2026-03-03”FAA · March 2026 · grade B
- FAA obstruction evaluation (7460-1): Determined - No Hazard“ASN 2026-ASO-4570-OE: Crane Operating Zone - Amazon Data Center, Crane, 185 ft AGL, 1008 ft AMSL, 33.64005,-83.82016, Determined - No Hazard, submitted 2026-03-03”FAA · March 2026 · grade B
- FAA obstruction evaluation (7460-1): Determined - No Hazard“ASN 2026-ASO-4571-OE: Crane Operating Zone - Amazon Data Center, Crane, 185 ft AGL, 1008 ft AMSL, 33.63634,-83.82017, Determined - No Hazard, submitted 2026-03-03”FAA · March 2026 · grade B
- FAA obstruction evaluation (7460-1): Determined - No Hazard“ASN 2026-ASO-4572-OE: Crane Operating Zone - Amazon Data Center, Crane, 120 ft AGL, 943 ft AMSL, 33.63394,-83.82555, Determined - No Hazard, submitted 2026-03-03”FAA · March 2026 · grade B
- FAA obstruction evaluation (7460-1): Determined - No Hazard“ASN 2026-ASO-4573-OE: Crane Operating Zone - Amazon Data Center, Crane, 120 ft AGL, 943 ft AMSL, 33.63611,-83.82554, Determined - No Hazard, submitted 2026-03-03”FAA · March 2026 · grade B
- FAA obstruction evaluation (7460-1): Determined - No Hazard“ASN 2026-ASO-4574-OE: Crane Operating Zone - Amazon Data Center, Crane, 120 ft AGL, 943 ft AMSL, 33.63611,-83.82325, Determined - No Hazard, submitted 2026-03-03”FAA · March 2026 · grade B
- FAA obstruction evaluation (7460-1): Determined - No Hazard“ASN 2026-ASO-4575-OE: Crane Operating Zone - Amazon Data Center, Crane, 120 ft AGL, 943 ft AMSL, 33.63393,-83.82326, Determined - No Hazard, submitted 2026-03-03”FAA · March 2026 · grade B
- FAA obstruction evaluation (7460-1): Determined - No Hazard“ASN 2025-ASO-25175-OE: ATL089, Crane, 175 ft AGL, 922 ft AMSL, 33.63449,-83.82976, Determined - No Hazard, submitted 2025-12-15”FAA · Dec. 2025 · grade B
- FAA obstruction evaluation (7460-1): Determined - No Hazard“ASN 2025-ASO-25176-OE: ATL089, Crane, 175 ft AGL, 921 ft AMSL, 33.63473,-83.82942, Determined - No Hazard, submitted 2025-12-15”FAA · Dec. 2025 · grade B
- FAA OE/AAA filings evidence vertical construction at Amazon's Gregory Road Data Center campus (Covington GA): ten crane cases filed under the campus's own names - two 'ATL089' cranes (the campus's Georgia EPD facility de“ASN 2025-ASO-25176-OE: ATL089, Crane, 175 ft AGL, 921 ft AMSL, 33.63473,-83.82942, Determined - No Hazard, submitted 2025-12-15”FAA · Dec. 2025 · grade B
- Covington City Council:“The City Council approved the deal Monday night, voting unanimously on four related agreements.”News report · Dec. 2025 · grade C
- Newton County objected (May 7, 2025, 3-1 with one abstention) to Covington's annexation of about 520.5 acres along Gregory Road tied to the campus and voted to initiate Georgia's annexation dispute process - a permission“The Newton County Board of Commissioners voted to object to the City of Covington’s proposed annexation of about 520.5 acres along Gregory Road”News report · May 2025 · grade C
- Newton County Board of Commissioners voted 3-1 with one abstention on May 6, 202: Newton County objection adopted; statutory dispute-resolution process initiated“The Newton County Board of Commissioners adopted a resolution objecting to a City of Covington annexation that would allow a planned data center campus”News report · May 2025 · grade C
- Newton County Board of Commissioners:“commissioners cited water, transportation and land‑use conflicts and voted 3–1 with one abstention to initiate dispute procedures under Georgia law.”News report · May 2025 · grade C
- Month precision (filed March 2025). Campus of multiple buildings up to 1.41M sq : Development of Regional Impact application FILED“The Gregory Road Data Center project is described as a data center campus occupying “multiple buildings up to 1.41 million square feet” (130,993 sqm) on approximately 213 acres”News report · March 2025 · grade C
- DRI filed for a data center campus of multiple buildings up to 1.41 million sq f: Development of Regional Impact application filed“The Gregory Road Data Center project is described as a data center campus occupying “multiple buildings up to 1.41 million square feet” (130,993 sqm) on approximately 213 acres, and was estimated to see up to $5.7bn invested.”News report · March 2025 · grade C
Legal (1)
- No lawsuit, moratorium, denial or petition naming the AWS Gregory Road / Project Lighthouse campus was found in this pass; the Newton County contention in the record (EPD fines, stop-work, SELC letter) is all about the s“Local communities and environmental groups have alerted the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) about unpermitted construction at VoltaGrid's pop-up power plant and Serverfarm's adjacent data center in Covington, GA”News report · July 2026 · grade C
Site and other (2)
- County code: 13217“"County":{"FIPS":"13217","name":"Newton County"},"State":{"FIPS":"13","code":"GA","name":"Georgia"},"status":"OK"”Dataset · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- Developer: Amazon Data Services, Inc. (AWS)“Facility Name: Amazon Data Services, Inc. ATL089 Campus Facility Address: 11145 Alcovy Road Covington, Georgia 30054 Newton County”State agency · Sept. 2025 · grade A