Tuesday, May 14, 2024 –11:00 a.m.

-Staff reports-

Governor Brian Kemp recently vetoed a bill that would have rescinded tax credits for certain types of data center projects in Georgia.

In his veto message, the governor wrote that the timing of the measure would have left companies planning to set up data centers in Georgia — such as Microsoft in Rome — in the lurch.

The Georgia Chamber of Commerce backed the veto, according to President Chris Clarke who was in Rome Monday as of the Georgia Chamber’s New Economy Tour.

“It’s not our position to say whether or not you shouldn’t incentivize a company or not, but you can’t change the rules in the middle of the game,” Clarke said. “We have $22 billion worth of data center projects are under construction in Georgia today. Many of them have used that tax credit to secure their financing, or it has been a part of that. So, we just said let’s let the companies in the process finish the process. I think the governor saw the same thing. Businesses want stability. They want to know what is going to happen, and I appreciate the governor for vetoing that bill and giving us an opportunity to continue that dialogue and that discussion.”

According to Clarke, data centers are there because of artificial intelligence and the importance of data in our daily lives.

There are tons of AI jobs coming to Georgia, future employees just have to be prepared for them.

Clarke added a recent survey showed 58 percent of Georgia businesses are already investing in AI robotics.