Residents press Commission to reject data center
Lowndes County residents urged the County Commission to reject Project Red Clay, a proposed AI data center, citing concerns over land, water usage, and transparency. Opponents like Annthea Gulley and Chuck Eggleston raised environmental issues and questioned developer Cloverleaf Infrastructure's water promises, also submitting a public records request due to perceived lack of information from the commission.
Lowndes County residents urged the Lowndes County Commission to reject a proposed artificial intelligence data center, known as Project Red Clay, during their July 27 meeting. Opponents expressed significant concerns regarding the project's potential impact on the county’s land, natural resources, and water supply.
Annthea Gulley emphasized the biblical responsibility to protect natural resources for future generations, while Chuck Eggleston specifically questioned the water demands of the proposed facility, estimating it could consume up to 15 million gallons per day even with a closed-loop cooling system. He urged commissioners to obtain written water demand figures from the developer, Cloverleaf Infrastructure.
John Urquhart accused the commission of failing to provide adequate information and violating its mission statement, noting that opponents have sought help from environmental legal organizations and submitted a formal public records request. Eddie Barnes criticized the commission for its lack of transparency and direct answers.
While County Attorney Prince Chestnut's representative, Mitchell Madison Jr., stated that pending litigation would not be discussed publicly, U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell's district director, Melinda Williams, announced an upcoming town hall meeting, though it would cover various topics beyond the data center. Social media influencer Gwen Johnson encouraged continued citizen opposition at the next commission meeting on August 10.