Brookwood data center developer donates $25k to Tuberville campaign
Applied Digital Corporation donated $25,000 to U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville's campaign, sparking ethical concerns from his gubernatorial opponent, Doug Jones. The donation comes as Applied Digital funds a data center in Brookwood facing local opposition over environmental impacts. The political debate highlights differing stances on data center development in Alabama, with Jones proposing a moratorium and Tuberville advocating for rapid growth.
Applied Digital Corporation (ADC), a Dallas-based data center developer funding a project in Brookwood, Alabama, donated $25,000 to U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville's gubernatorial campaign in August, according to campaign finance disclosure forms. This donation has drawn criticism from Tuberville's opponent, Democrat Doug Jones, who accused the senator of ethical malpractice for accepting funds from tech companies involved in data center development across west Alabama. Jones also highlighted Tuberville's stock portfolio, which includes investments in major tech firms like Google, Microsoft, Oracle, Apple, Qualcomm, and Accenture, suggesting a conflict of interest in his enthusiastic support for the AI and data center industry.
The Tuberville campaign, through chair Jordan Doufexis, responded by stating that the senator's investments are managed by a broker, absolving him of direct decision-making. Data centers have become a significant political issue in Alabama, with local residents in Brookwood, Bessemer, and Lowndes County expressing concerns over environmental impacts, noise levels, and pollution. Transparency issues have also been raised regarding projects like 'Project Marvel' in Bessemer, where officials signed non-disclosure agreements while promoting the development.
Tuberville has vigorously embraced data center expansion, dismissing environmental concerns as