Brookwood data center raises pollution concerns
The Alabama Department of Environmental Management approved a permit for a new data center on 130 acres in Brookwood. Activists are raising significant environmental concerns, particularly regarding water pollution and usage in Hurricane Creek and the Black Warrior River, ahead of an upcoming zoning meeting. The Brookwood Mayor signed a non-disclosure agreement regarding the project, drawing criticism for lack of transparency.
The Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) issued a permit on July 20 for the construction of a new data center on over 130 acres in Brookwood.
Environmental activists and organizations, including the Black Warrior Riverkeeper and the Southern Environmental Law Center, are voicing strong concerns ahead of an August 11 Brookwood Planning and Zoning Commission meeting. John Wathen of Black Warrior Riverkeeper plans to attend and highlight potential disturbances to federally protected Hurricane Creek, a tributary of the Black Warrior River, from project discharges and construction. Staff attorney Eva Dillard further detailed worries about stormwater pollution, treated wastewater containing chemicals like PFAS, and the substantial water and electricity consumption typical of data centers.
A key point of contention for activist groups is the lack of public information, exacerbated by a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) signed by Brookwood Mayor Joe Barger. Critics, including Wathen, suggest this NDA contributes to the difficulty in assessing the data center's potential impact on local water resources, as Alabama does not mandate public reporting of water usage by data centers. Despite denying the official existence of the project, Mayor Barger has outlined potential benefits, including 2,000 construction jobs and increased business revenues for the city and Tuscaloosa County, which he claims would fund infrastructure and park improvements.
Greater discussion is expected following the upcoming zoning meeting.