With more than one million new residents expected by 2035 and a surge in industrial megaprojects statewide, Georgia finds itself at a pivotal moment for infrastructure planning. The state has had rapid expansion in sectors such as advanced manufacturing, logistics. and digital services. This drives unprecedented demand for electricity, water and land — particularly in Atlanta, coastal Georgia and rural growth corridors. Recognizing the long-term risks posed by unchecked development, state leaders have launched a coordinated legislative effort to assess the sustainability of Georgia’s energy and water systems.
At the center of this effort is the newly formed House Special Committee on Resource Management, which convened its first meeting in May 2025. The committee, chaired by Rep. Brad Thomas, R-Woodstock, is tasked with studying how population growth, industrial expansion and the accelerating buildout of data centers and logistics infrastructure are impacting Georgia’s resource capacity. The committee is focused on creating a policy roadmap that will shape how Georgia allocates and governs its essential resources over the next 20 years.
New Committee Signals Strategic Shift in Infrastructure Planning
The Special Committee on Resource Management represents one of the most ambitious policy study efforts the Georgia House has undertaken in recent years. The two subcommittees are Water, chaired by Rep. Chas Cannon, R-Moultrie, and Energy, chaired by Rep. Victor Anderson, R-Cornelia. They are charged with evaluating current and projected resource demands across multiple sectors, including agriculture, manufacturing, data centers and urban development. Committee meetings will be held across the state, with future hearings scheduled in coastal Georgia, Fayetteville and Southwest Georgia, ensuring that regional challenges and opportunities are fully represented.
Chairman Thomas emphasized the importance of forward-thinking governance, stating that Georgia must develop a “next generation” approach to managing its water and power infrastructure. He has likened the effort to past landmark studies on statewide water planning, citing the need for data-driven recommendations that can inform policy as early as the 2026 legislative session. A working framework document has already been introduced, containing regional usage data, aquifer mapping, case studies on cooling technology and best practices from other states.
The committee’s early testimony has underscored the growing tension between economic expansion and infrastructure sustainability. Population growth is straining both urban and rural water systems, while power delivery timelines, especially for large load users like manufacturers and data centers create grid bottlenecks. In rural areas, agricultural water usage is increasingly affected by both drought patterns and new industrial competition for supply. Meanwhile, metropolitan counties face challenges in balancing land use, density and environmental impact.
Lawmakers have also raised questions about infrastructure equity. As Georgia attracts more industrial megaprojects and large-scale utility users, the need for coordinated investment in grid upgrades, storm resilience and rural infrastructure is becoming more urgent. The committee is expected to examine the alignment, or misalignment, between incentive policy and infrastructure cost recovery, as well as how to ensure that Georgia’s long-term economic success does not come at the expense of under-resourced communities or future taxpayers.
Strategic Considerations for Stakeholders
The launch of this committee marks an important shift in how Georgia is approaching infrastructure development. Companies with operations or growth plans in Georgia, particularly those in energy intensive, water-reliant or large footprint industries, should anticipate new scrutiny around resource use, public impact and alignment with regional planning goals. Permitting pathways, incentive agreements and local stakeholder expectations may evolve as lawmakers evaluate ways to tie economic development to sustainable infrastructure policy.
Now is the time for companies, utilities, site selectors and local governments to engage in this conversation. Participation in the committee’s regional hearings and proactive collaboration with legislators could help shape the recommendations that emerge from this process and ensure that future policies support responsible growth, not reactionary regulation.
How McGuireWoods Consulting Can Help
McGuireWoods Consulting is actively tracking the work of the House Special Committee on Resource Management and advising clients on how emerging infrastructure policy trends may affect project development, site selection and incentive strategies in Georgia. Our team has longstanding relationships with committee leadership and key agencies and provides strategic counsel on energy, water, economic development and land use policy across the state.
For more information on how to engage with this legislative effort or to evaluate how infrastructure planning developments may impact your organization, please contact our team.
