Questions answered on Westover data center at town hall
The City of Westover hosted a town hall to address residents' concerns about a planned data center off Highway 280. Key issues included noise pollution, electricity costs, and water usage, all of which developers sought to clarify. Following the town hall, the city council approved a six-month moratorium on data center development to further examine zoning and permitting policies.
The City of Westover, Alabama, recently held a town hall at New Life Church in Sterrett to address concerns from residents regarding a proposed data center off Highway 280. Representatives from the City Council, Planning Commission, Alabama Power, 58 INC, and Shelby County Water Services were present, alongside the data center's developer, AGP Group, and owner, Swift Willow Properties.
Mayor Bobby Pardue emphasized the importance of hearing residents' questions and concerns. Developers, including Jay Reinke of AGP Group and Greg DeBacke of Swift Willow Properties, explained that the facility would house computers for online services and AI, requiring significant computing power and cooling methods. The 450-acre property, purchased by Swift Willow Properties from Westervelt Realty Inc., was selected due to existing infrastructure like high-voltage transmission lines and a 30-inch water main.
After a two-year public process involving multiple unanimous votes by the prior and current city council and planning commission, the property's rezoning to EC-I (Employment Center-Industrial District) was approved in February 2025. Despite these approvals, residents raised concerns about potential noise pollution, with developers estimating 65 decibels at the property line and promising noise level restrictions. Questions also arose about electricity costs, but Alabama Power representatives clarified that data centers pay full infrastructure upgrade costs, preventing shifts to existing customers, and the data center confirmed it would cover 100% of these upgrades, estimated for a capacity of 600 MW.
Regarding water, Shelby County Water Services stated estimated flow rates of 10-15,000 gallons per day, comparable to a shopping center. AGP Group's David Ameneyro committed to using a closed-loop, glycol-based cooling system, avoiding evaporative cooling and reliance on aquifers, with the solution requiring disposal or transport every 5-7 years. Crucially, the Westover City Council recently approved a six-month moratorium on data center zoning, rezoning, and permitting, halting further development until the city can thoroughly research its policies.