About Us
Effingham is full of all kinds of people. Different ages, backgrounds, and points of view. But when the data center announcement dropped out of nowhere, everyone felt the same shock and frustration. For a moment, the entire county was talking to each other again, trying to figure out what to do next. And it wasn’t just Effingham — people in the counties next to the site were reaching out too, because whatever happens here is going to hit them hard too.
We saw new groups forming to oppose the data center, and we really love seeing how motivated our community is to stand up for itself. But we realized quickly there was a need for a single information hub where everyone could share what they found, give important dates, and pass on updates about things they’ve been working on.
What we're trying to do
We're not asking any groups to change what they’re doing or hand over their members. We’re just here to provide a shared communication hub so everyone can stay informed and no one has to do double work!
Some of us are experienced organizers while the rest of us are just regular Joes trying to figure out how to help. Either way, none of us are getting paid to do this. We all have families, work, businesses, lives… so bear with us.
If you’re interested in joining efforts, click here. If you have important documents you want us to post (open records, articles, transcripts from conversations with officials, etc.) you can add them to our Resources page.
Why purple?
We chose this color for a reason. Effingham isn’t red or blue, it’s both. It’s neither. It’s everybody. We’re going to need to pull all the teams together for this, because there are a lot of strong people in this area, the kind who don’t back down when something’s not right. But even if you’re not sure how to help, staying connected with your neighbors is a good place to start.
This issue won't be over quickly. Other counties have been at this for years, and some of it ends up in court eventually. When communities are scattered and confused, that makes it easier to push big projects like this through. So let’s stay connected and informed — it’s the best way to keep our community strong!
Our Mission
Our mission is to protect the people, land, and history of Effingham County from untamed development, and to make sure residents have a real say in what gets built here. We want a county where growth is balanced with the needs of the people who live here, and where our community is protected for the generations to come.
We're not against growth. Homes and jobs matter. But this is different: 3.2 gigawatts running nonstop for decades. That’s not for everyday internet use, that’s the kind of power you build for huge computing systems serving priorities far outside Effingham. And nobody’s explained why it has to be this big, right next to an elementary school or a residential area. That's our water, our quiet, our land, our families’ health, for something that doesn't put a roof over anybody's head here.
Contact us
General inquiries: info@protecteffingham.org
News & Media inquires: media@protecteffingham.org
Outreach & Volunteering inquiries: volunteer@protecteffingham.org