Prichard residents voice strong opposition to proposed data center at public hearing
Residents in Prichard, Alabama, voiced strong opposition at a public hearing against a proposed data center project in their community. The city council recently enacted a 180-day moratorium to allow time to develop relevant rules and ordinances, but residents demand the project be stopped entirely, not just regulated. Concerns include the project's impact on neighborhoods, noise, light, pollution, and vibration.
Residents of Prichard, Alabama, packed a city council meeting to express overwhelming opposition to a proposed data center project. Many speakers emphasized their desire for city leaders to stop the project altogether, rather than merely regulate it.
Despite the Prichard City Council having voted the previous week to enact a 180-day moratorium on the project, the council's attorney, Moshae Donald-Walker, clarified that this action does not mean the project is off the table. She explained that the moratorium provides the city with time to develop appropriate ordinances, which would involve lawyers, engineers, architects, and the planning commission, as well as citizen input.
Concerns raised by residents and outlined by Donald-Walker include the potential for noise, light, pollution, and vibration impacts from the technology. Residents, however, are not interested in waiting for regulations to be developed; they want the proposed data center to be cancelled entirely, citing worries about their community and the well-being of elderly residents.
No date was set for a future community meeting on the data centers, but council members indicated updates would be provided soon.