Proposed Brookwood data center raises pollution concerns
The Alabama Department of Environmental Management has issued a permit for a new data center in Brookwood. Activists, including the Hurricane Creekkeeper and Black Warrior Riverkeeper, are raising concerns about potential pollution, water usage, and lack of public information surrounding the project, with a critical zoning meeting scheduled. Brookwood Mayor Joe Barger acknowledged signing a non-disclosure agreement but promoted potential economic benefits while denying the project's confirmed existence.
The Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) recently made effective a permit for the construction of a new data center on over 130 acres in Brookwood, Alabama. This development has sparked significant concern among local activist groups ahead of an upcoming Brookwood Planning and Zoning Commission meeting.
John Wathen, the Hurricane Creekkeeper, plans to address the zoning meeting to express concerns regarding potential pollution impacts on federally protected waterways like Hurricane Creek and the Black Warrior River. According to Wathen and Eva Dillard, staff attorney at Black Warrior Riverkeeper, data centers can pose risks through stormwater pollution during construction and discharge of treated wastewater containing chemicals like PFAS from cooling systems. Dillard's organization is collaborating with Wathen and the Southern Environmental Law Center to gather more information about the project, particularly given the lack of public transparency.
Adding to the concerns, Brookwood Mayor Joe Barger admitted to signing a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) related to the project. Activists argue that such agreements hinder public understanding of the data center's potential environmental impacts, especially concerning water usage, as Alabama currently has no public reporting requirements for data center water consumption. Despite denying the formal existence of a contract, Mayor Barger highlighted potential short-term economic benefits, including up to 2,000 construction jobs and increased city revenues for infrastructure and parks.