Former Projects

The Oppose Atlas DC Battey Project,
8.27.2025 - 12.12.2025

I had...

an amazing time working with my northwest Georgia neighbors in the fight against hyperscale data center encroachment -- particularly when it came to Atlas Development LLC's plans to build a data center in Rome's Battey Business Complex, the former site of the Northwest Georgia Regional Hospital, at 705 N. Division Street. Immediately after the August 2025 Battey Complex announcement, I moved into action, meeting other local residents opposed to proposed data center construction, contacting and speaking with local lawmakers regarding these plans, helping to organize public meetings, and creating/helping to create publicly accessible documents and online content to organize and assist in the data center fight.

Starting January 2026, LTCA officially moved from Rome, Georgia to the Atlanta metro area, shifting my participation from a directly active to an advisory and assistance role. I loved doing this work, and I appreciate the dynamic and amazing NWGA community with whom I worked along the way! I will remember the Oppose Atlas project with fondness and appreciation for the residents of northwest Georgia. Please see the information that was available on this site during my time of direct, in-person action here, and keep scrolling for the highlights of the work I did from August to December 2025.

Thank you for checking this out, and contact me if you're interested in working with LTCA!

LTCA-Created Resources

These are LTCA documents that encouraged local officials to consider resource-minded development, particularly for communities addressing data center encroachment. I wanted local municipalities to catch the vision of a resource-minded and resource-loving community! Please click on the pdf icon to view/download the applicable document.

SourceAlternatives Proposal to Data Center Construction: Battey Business Complex:
SourceAlternatives Question List:

Below are the online resources I started (thanks to the encouragement of another local activist and friend) to help spread the word and raise public awareness about the Battey Complex data center plans and about hyperscale data center encroachment in general. I'm proud of how well they've done. While I still administer the petition, Kristie Miner became my co-administrator for the Facebook group almost immediately and is the sole administrator of the Facebook group since my move. (She was also my awesome co-founder for the Oppose Atlas DC Battey action group.)

Petition (currently at 1,833 supporters!): We say NO! to Atlas Development's data center (@ Battey Complex)
- Here's the most recent petition update, sent out 1.25.26
Facebook group (currently at 250 members!): www.facebook.com/groups/wesayno

Happy to Help!

We are never alone. From the start, I have been assisted by and have had the honor to assist some wonderful people in our resistance to data centers in our community. While LTCA has the above self-generated content, I've also appreciated the opportunity to review and comment on others' documents, to comment to the media on joint work that has been done, and to show support for the creation of public signs about data centers.

Here's my statement regarding our petition and data centers in general in the 10.30.2025 Rome New-Tribune article (paywalled): "Local group-opposing Rome data center gathers signatures for petition."
With Kristie Miner, I co-founded the Oppose Atlas DC Battey group, the in-person action group that grew from the We Say NO! Facebook page and to whom administration of the We Say NO! petition was transferred (from LTCA). This group became to reference point for all direct actions that we organized when it came to local data center resistance, from a contact for any media connections, to an interface with wider public interactions, to a space-maker and method for in-person meeting and action to take place. Helping to co-create and co-organize this group was definitely a highlight of this work.
Oppose Atlas DC co-founder Kristie Miner worked tirelessly as the group's representative to submit two Open Meetings Act complaints to the Attorney General of Georgia on Tuesday, November 18, 2025. Kristie did the bulk of this work, and I was honored to help Kristie when called upon to review and revise documents as needed for successful submission. The AG's office is currently in conversation with the alleged violators regarding the complaints.
- Our press release regarding the complaints (which Kristie wrote and I reviewed) were shared multiple places, including the Floyd County Georgia Media Group and the Bartow County Georgia Media Group
- The Coosa Valley News also picked up the story on November 19. 2025.
Creating yard signs is no easy task, and I was glad to assist fellow community members in getting yard signs printed to help spread the word about local hyperscale data center resistance.
- Additionally, I'm a huge fan of The Walking Sign Facebook page, which was created by a dear community member as the sister page to the 'We Say No!' Facebook page and which features photos of the Oppose Atlas yard signs at important locations throughout Rome and Floyd County. The photos are accompanied by vital information about the threat hyperscale data centers present to our communities. We love you, Walking Sign!

Speaking Up, Speaking Out

Something I appreciated about Rome and Floyd County, despite their challenges, is the accessibility of the local government. Among all of the other honors of this particular project, one of the biggest has been interacting with local elected city officials. Below are links to my two speeches to the Rome City Commission. I am thankful for direct access to elected officials! I consider such access a great privilege:

First speech on 9.8.2025 (starts at 10:59). Here, I talk to the City Commission at the general meeting immediately following the announcement of Atlas Development's Battey Business Complex purchase. This talk was catalyzing for me, and it took place before all the subsequent work featured on this page -- and it was where I met two of the three anti-data center colleagues who I now consider friends.
Second speech on 11.24.2025 (starts at 6:43). Here, I share my final words as a resident with the City Commission regarding the folly of fighting for those who are clearly unwilling to join them in the fight. In this 3-minute speech, I invoke the difficulties the City Commission was experiencing due to Atlas Development's plans, including two then-sitting Commissioners' re-election losses -- allegedly due, at least in part, to local opposition to data centers. Shout out to Melissa Keefe, co-leader Rome/Floyd Indivisible, who spoke against data centers immediately before I did.
- After the meeting. After my talk, I chatted with Commissioner Mark Cochran, a commissioner who has been great support in questioning data center encroachment in the community. Thank you, Commissioner! (Photo credit to Kristie Miner. I had no idea she was taking this photo.)
- FB screenshots. I happened upon these comments when reviewing a post related to local data centers. I didn't know they were there, and I'm glad to have made an impact! The first screenshot shows the initial post, then the two comments shared by a Facebook user.

Reviews

Like I mentioned earlier, I had the opportunity to work with some great people on this project. I appreciate the feedback they shared about my presence with them for the short time I was able to help:

From Kristie Miner: "Thank you Kelly! We wish you all the best and are very grateful for the way you stepped in and kicked this effort off. I have told you but wish to reiterate here that it has been an absolute pleasure to work with you. I have appreciated the way you ask for ideas and LISTEN. You also have a natural way of lifting people up and encouraging everyone to take action in whatever capacity they can contribute. You are an amazing writer and a woman of action--you've spoiled me!

"I know I’m not alone when I say that we will miss [you] dearly and that we are so very grateful for getting this group up and running and leading us with class. (Thankfully, she has offered to help “in the background” should we call on her). Bless you and your family—go do more great things my friend! I know that we will remain in touch and that you and your skill sets will certainly bless others in this next season!"
From Angela Rubino: "My name is Angela Rubino, and I first met Miss Kelly at a city commission meeting. The moment she stood up to defend our neighborhoods, I knew we had found a true advocate—someone who didn’t just talk about change but rolled up her sleeves and made it happen.

"Since then, Kelly has become an unwavering voice for many of us. She’s taken on the complex paperwork and signature gathering for petitions that many of us felt overwhelmed by. Where we saw obstacles, she saw opportunity. She guided us step by step, easing our worries and ensuring our voices were heard.

"Her dedication doesn’t stop at paperwork. Kelly shows up, listens, and finds solutions. She leads with both heart and expertise, inspiring each of us to believe that positive change is possible.

"I am—and will always be—deeply grateful for her tireless work. Thank you."
From Ron Swinford: "Kelly jumped right in when she became aware of the proposed data center inside the city limits of Rome Ga. She along with several other community activists started getting information out to the public and for public comments.

"She was invaluable doing research on data centers, but her ability to talk in public and make the concepts understandable to the general public was top notch.

"Kelly showed that when her head is focused on something she is willing to do whatever is needed to get the job done, from deep research on a topic that is still pretty new, to gathering and informing like minded people, to the ability to stand up in front of a crowd and make her points in a public setting."