Geologists tell us that about 125,000 years ago, Emanuel County was waterfront beach property. In the last few weeks, between all the rain and the new property evaluations we might think we are getting closer and closer to being beachfront property once again. It’s funny how land prices can change. A lieutenant traveling through these parts with General Sherman in 1864 described it as the “most desolate, God-forsaken place I have ever seen”, but now in 2026, Georgia Power apparently feels like it has to absolutely have some of this land in our part of Georgia to build new high voltage, high-intensity transmission power lines. It’s all about a project called Primary 500. The plan calls for these lines to come from Plant Hatch at Baxley through Toombs and Emanuel County and further north. According to WSB News, Atlanta, the project is part of a ten-year expansion plan to bring more electric power to parts of the state for replacement of weak areas of the power grid and development of capabilities for new industrial customers, such as high-level electricity user businesses like Data Centers. Already, landowners with property affected by this proposed construction have received letters of notice from Georgia Power of their intention to build this 75-mile project requiring right of way and easements. Typically, this is done through negotiation for land sales to the power company or condemnation processes such as eminent domain if an agreeable sale price is not reached.
Interestingly enough, this comes at a time when recent concern has arisen over a new business in the county which is described as a Data Center. In consecutive meetings of the county commissioners, multiple property owners have voiced concern about the operation of this business, the long-term effects therein, and the need for a protocol for approving any other such businesses which may be seeking to locate in Emanuel County in the days ahead. Right now, the county has no zoning laws, ordinances or regulations in place. Many folks in the unincorporated areas of the county strongly oppose any form of zoning. This is completely understandable, but as the county grows and progress inevitably brings change, it may be wise and cautious to start working on some solutions to protect our land and our personal freedoms and way of life without putting our heads in the sand and closing the door on future opportunities that may come our way. Zoning may not be the solution, but it can come in many different shapes, forms, and sizes. The people get to decide.
To the unease brought about by these recent developments, we can also add the furrowed brows of property owners in Emanuel County who are dealing with a little anxiety over some “not so little” adjustments to their property evaluations. I’m not about to advise anybody on either side of this coin on this issue. I will just suggest that everyone slow down a little and listen to our county officials and trust that they have the best interest of us and this county at heart, unlike General Sherman.
