Microsoft buys more land for Palmetto data center – Atlanta Business Chronicle

Microsoft is acquiring more land for its data center campus in Palmetto.

The tech giant paid $6 million for about 20 additional acres next to its existing data center campus, according to Fulton County property deeds.

The seller was the business entity, Hwy 81/20 LLC, according to the deeds. Databank, which records commercial real estate property transactions across Atlanta, showed Microsoft paying about $288,268 per acre. “That’s a high price, but considering it’s Microsoft it’s also within the norm,” said Databank founder Alan Wexler.

Microsoft purchased the land to support its ongoing data center construction, a spokesperson said in an email to Atlanta Business Chronicle.

The $420 million Palmetto data center project was approved in 2020. Microsoft plans to finish the project by 2028 when it could span up to 116 acres, according to previous filings with the Georgia Department of Community Affairs.

This data center is part of Microsoft’s East US 3 data region announced in 2021. It will serve Microsoft’s Azure cloud services, among other functions. The region also includes Microsoft data center projects in East Point and Douglas County.

Microsoft is investing in properties for multiple data centers across the world, following a trend as AI and digital products expand. However, data centers have recently experienced backlash because they require large amounts land and electricity and provide limited jobs.

While Microsoft continues to invest in data centers, the company is still evaluating its global real estate footprint. Planning remains paused for its Westside Atlanta campus in Grove Park.