Data Center Census

Jackson, Butts County, GA

Amazon Web Services Butts County data center campus

Also known as Project Lighthouse

ApprovedLocal PILOT agreement amended November 2025; payments begin 2027
  1. Rumored
  2. Proposed
  3. Approved
  4. Under construction
  5. Operating

Amazon Web Services plans about 12 data centers, known locally as Project Lighthouse, at River Park Industrial Park off Georgia Highway 16 near I-75 in southwest Butts County. The campus is part of an $11 billion AWS investment in Butts and Douglas counties announced in January 2025. Property is titled to the county development authority, with Amazon making payments in lieu of taxes starting in 2027.

Key facts

Size & schedule

Buildings12 [4]
approximately 12 data centers planned
Stated investment$11 billion [1]
at least $11 billion combined for Butts and Douglas counties
Permanent jobs (promised)550 [1]
at least 550 combined for Butts and Douglas counties

Money & incentives

Tax incentivesProperty titled to Development Authority of Butts County with payments in lieu of taxes beginning 2027 (county share $16.5 million in 2027) [4]
Payments / community benefitsAmended PILOT split: county 59.25%, school system 39.25%, Development Authority 1.5% of gross PILOT payments [4]
Source excerpt
“the county will now receive 59.25% of the gross PILOT payments while the school system receives 39.25% and the IDA receives the remaining 1.5%.”

Figures are as stated by the cited source. Where sources disagree, each figure is shown.

Timeline

  1. AWS announces at least $11 billion investment in Butts and Douglas counties [1]

  2. Intergovernmental PILOT agreement amended after approval by county commission, school board and development authority; water/sewer funding moved to a separate agreement with the Butts County Water and Sewer Authority [4]

  3. PILOT payments to county, schools and development authority scheduled to begin [4]

Sources

  1. AWS plans to invest at least $11 billion in Georgia to expand infrastructure to support AI and cloud technologies
    Amazon · Jan 7, 2025 · company
  2. Amazon plans $11 billion data center expansion in Georgia
    Atlanta Journal-Constitution · Jan 8, 2025 · news
  3. Amazon Announces $11 Billion Dollar Investment in Butts, Douglas Counties
    Henry Herald · Jan 7, 2025 · news
  4. Amazon's future contributions to local entities adjusted
    Jackson Progress-Argus · Nov 17, 2025 · news
  5. AWS reveals $11bn data center investment plan for Georgia
    DatacenterDynamics · Jan 8, 2025 · news