Little Rock official expresses regret over data centers
A Little Rock city official expressed regret for not asking enough questions about a proposed Google AI data center in East Little Rock. Residents are concerned about its environmental impact, particularly wastewater, and feel the city board could have done more despite a state law preventing outright bans.
A recent meeting regarding data centers in the Little Rock area became contentious as Little Rock City Board member Virgil Miller expressed regret over not thoroughly questioning the proposed Google AI data center in East Little Rock. The meeting, which included the Coalition of Little Rock Neighborhoods, focused on the facility's potential environmental impact, particularly its wastewater production.
Ryan Benefield, COO of the Little Rock Water Reclamation Authority, stated that treatability studies confirmed their plant could handle the data center's wastewater. However, residents pressed Miller, who admitted he didn't ask enough questions and wished he'd done more, despite maintaining that a state law supersedes local authority to outright ban such projects, a point echoed by Mayor Frank Scott Jr.
The Google project has faced community pushback, partly due to a previous invite-only meeting that excluded some residents. Google issued a statement claiming that meeting was intended to gather local input from fellow residents.