Protesters express anxiety and outrage over all the unknowns of the Little Rock data center coming to a wetland near you

About 50 anti-data center protesters gathered outside the federal building in Little Rock, Arkansas, on Wednesday afternoon, expressing anxiety and outrage over a proposed data center development. The protest was organized by groups including the Sierra Club and Indivisible, who are concerned about a perceived lack of transparency and information regarding the project near the Port of Little Rock, which has been connected to Google and is being developed by Willowbend Capital. The federal building was chosen due to the presence of the Little Rock District of the Army Corps of Engineers, which is currently accepting public comments on a proposal to permit the dredging and filling of 16 acres of wetlands near Fourche Bayou for the data center. Activist Mike Poe criticized city officials for supporting data centers and not providing opportunities for public input, while protester Wendy Cole voiced fears about potential water shortfalls and the lack of a public hearing. Abbigail Getty from Lonoke County highlighted concerns for drinking water, ecosystems, and endangered species like monarch butterflies, which could be impacted by the project. The City of Little Rock signed a memorandum of understanding with Willowbend Capital in April 2025, granting a 65% property tax abatement over 30 years in exchange for payments in lieu of taxes, starting at $300,000 annually. The agreement also limits the city's future regulatory authority over the center. Col. Eric Swenson of the Army Corps of Engineers engaged with protesters, explaining that the corps is in the early stages of evaluating the application to minimize environmental impacts on federal waterways and that a public hearing's necessity depends on the scale of anticipated impacts. The corps will continue accepting public comments until May 1 and will work with Willowbend Capital to understand environmental effects and explore alternatives. Willowbend Capital will also likely need state permits for wastewater and backup generators.