Lowndes County considers new data center

Residents of Lowndes County, Alabama, packed a County Commission meeting to voice concerns over a proposed $1 billion AI data center development, known as Project Red Clay. While supporters advocate for the project, highlighting potential benefits like jobs, tax revenue, and long-term economic growth, many residents expressed distrust and worried about negative environmental impacts, constant noise from cooling fans ("acoustic roar"), and potential health issues from magnetic frequencies, citing effects like dizziness, hearing loss, and vision problems observed near other data centers. Jeff Berry, an individual with over 30 years of experience in building, managing, and operating data centers, specifically articulated his concerns regarding the suitability of the proposed location for the data center. Lowndes County Commissioners acknowledged the public's input, stating that discussions regarding Project Red Clay are still in their early stages and assured residents that they would continue to be consulted throughout the development process.