Major $2 Billion Data Center Campus 'Project Eisenhower' Nears Augusta, Targeting Mid-2026 Launch

Augusta's $2 Billion Data Center Project Advances, Eyeing 2026 Operational Date January 2, 2026 A significant new data center campus is moving forward in Augusta, Georgia, highlighting the continued expansion of digital infrastructure into regions offering strategic and logistical advantages. The project, a phased development representing an estimated $2 billion investment, underscores the intense demand for computing capacity driven by cloud services, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity operations. According to state and local filings by developer Eagle South LLC, the campus, internally referred to as "Project Eisenhower," is planned for a site at 2883 Gordon Highway, near Fort Gordon. This location is of particular strategic interest as Fort Gordon houses the U.S. Army Cyber Command, a key entity in national cyber defense. The site's appeal is further bolstered by the proximity of a Georgia Power Co. substation, crucial for meeting the massive power and water cooling demands of modern data centers. The development is projected to encompass more than 2.1 million square feet of space—equivalent to approximately 36 football fields—across six two-story buildings. Current plans target the second quarter of 2026 for the project's completion and operational launch. This follows a previous, smaller proposal for the same site by Atlanta developer T5, which was withdrawn in 2022. Despite the substantial capital investment, such large-scale data center projects frequently face community scrutiny. Critics argue that the facilities consume disproportionate amounts of utilities, potentially straining local water and power resources, while generating limited direct economic benefits or jobs for the surrounding communities. This dynamic is playing out in the broader region, with leaders in neighboring Columbia County set to consider three separate data center development requests in early 2026. The advancement of Project Eisenhower reflects a broader industry trend of seeking locations with robust power infrastructure and potential synergies with government or tech hubs, even as the debate over their local impact intensifies. Source: augustachronicle