Piedmont residents pack City Council meeting to oppose proposed data center rezoning
Piedmont residents packed a City Council meeting to express intense opposition to a proposed Cloverleaf data center campus, which had previously been recommended for denial by the Planning Commission. Concerns were raised about water use, power demand, and noise, while a Cloverleaf representative presented figures and economic benefits. The City Council's decision on the rezoning application has been rescheduled for the end of July.
Piedmont, Oklahoma, residents filled City Council chambers to voice strong opposition against a proposed Cloverleaf data center campus. The project, which includes a rezoning application, had previously been recommended for denial by the Planning Commission.
During the meeting, citizens expressed concerns regarding the data center's potential impact on water usage, power demand, and noise levels. Aaron Bilyeu, a representative for Cloverleaf, addressed these concerns by providing specific figures: the initial phase of the closed-loop cooling system would use 75,000 gallons of water per day for up to four months, the campus would require up to 1.4 gigawatts of power, and it would operate at 60 decibels. Bilyeu also highlighted potential economic benefits, including $9 million annually in franchise fees and other payments for the city, and the creation of up to 500 permanent jobs.
Despite the presentation, resident opposition remained firm, with one individual stating they could not be swayed. Due to the extensive discussion and high turnout, the City Council was unable to make a decision, and the debate on the Cloverleaf data center proposal has been rescheduled for late July.