AWS Advances Georgia Data Center Plans in Covington
Amazon Web Services (AWS) is planning a new data center development in Covington, Georgia, as part of its broader infrastructure expansion across the state. While project-specific details remain limited, the initiative aligns with AWS’s previously announced investment plans in Georgia, where the company committed to invest approximately US$11 billion, with significant activity concentrated in Butts County and Douglas County. Covington is located in neighboring Newton County.
Limited Project Details, Strategic Location
AWS has not publicly disclosed the planned data center’s size, power requirements, IT capacity, or construction timeline. However, local reporting from Covington News and WSB-TV indicates that the project is moving forward with municipal coordination. According to these reports, AWS has reached a US$100 million agreement with the City of Covington to develop a water treatment and cooling facility that will support the data center. The agreement was approved during a city council meeting held on December 15. City officials stated that the facility will serve a data center AWS plans to develop along Alcovy Road, near Interstate 20, a major transportation corridor that supports large-scale industrial development.
Water and Cooling Infrastructure Plans
The water infrastructure associated with the project is expected to be constructed and funded by AWS. The company has indicated that the cooling system will rely primarily on outside air, with water-based cooling required only during limited operational periods. In addition, AWS plans to deploy a reclaimed water system designed to reduce reliance on freshwater resources. According to company estimates, the reclaimed water approach could preserve more than 45 million gallons of freshwater annually once the facility becomes operational. This infrastructure strategy reflects broader industry trends toward reducing water intensity in large-scale data center operations.
Land Acquisition Supports Development
Supporting the planned development, AWS acquired approximately 430 acres of land in Covington in January 2024. The land was purchased across three transactions for a combined value of around US$36 million. The parcels are located along Interstate 20, near its intersection with Alcovy Road, placing them adjacent to the proposed data center site. The Covington project represents another step in AWS’s continued expansion of its data center footprint in Georgia, a state that has emerged as a major hub for hyperscale infrastructure due to its connectivity, available land, and supportive local development frameworks.
