Conway residents comment on possible data center

Residents of Conway, Arkansas, packed a recent city council meeting to voice their strong opposition to a proposed 300,000-square-foot data center. The facility, estimated to cost up to $1 billion and create around 50 jobs, is being championed by Forgelight Ventures LLC, a shell company with a Delaware address and no in-state presence, for an unnamed Fortune 100 company. Key concerns raised by residents included potential spikes in electricity bills and the draining of precious water resources, with many expressing that the project was moving too quickly without adequate local input. Jeremy Rice, a resident living near the proposed site, highlighted a lack of specific answers from officials regarding charitable contributions, environmental studies, and building purposes, despite previous inquiries. Emily Lane, a University of Central Arkansas professor specializing in environmental justice, warned that the data center could exacerbate existing toxic air release issues in the Southwest Conway neighborhood due to its significant heat output. Another resident, Phillip Fletcher, urged the city to take more time and listen to community concerns. Conway Mayor Bart Castleberry acknowledged residents' fears, stating that the concerns were