Fairfield neighbors, environmental groups hold community meeting ahead of data center town hall
Residents and environmental groups in Fairfield, Alabama, held a community meeting to prepare for an upcoming town hall on a proposed colocation data center by Patmos. Concerns were raised regarding potential impacts on health, the environment, and utility costs. Community members believe data center companies target underserved areas.
Residents and community activists in Fairfield, Alabama, gathered at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church ahead of a city town hall to discuss a proposed colocation data center by Patmos. Organized by groups like the Fairfield Environmental Justice Alliance, the meeting aimed to equip neighbors from the Belwood area with questions about the facility's potential impacts.
Concerns voiced included adverse health effects, environmental degradation, and rising utility costs, with resident Cynthia Thomas linking potential issues to existing problems from U.S. Steel. Gilda Walker, founder of the Fairfield Environmental Justice Alliance, expressed belief that data center companies often target underserved communities.
The upcoming 'Fairfield Digital Infrastructure and Advanced Technology' town hall is scheduled for Wednesday, August 12, at 6 p.m. at the Fairfield Civic Center, where further details and community input on the project are expected.