Residents in Piedmont gathering signatures to oppose proposed data center project
Piedmont, Oklahoma residents are actively gathering signatures to oppose "Project Open Sky," a proposed data center project by Cloverleaf Infrastructure. They are pushing for a public vote on several citizen initiative petitions, including a temporary moratorium and noise level regulations. This comes as the Piedmont City Council is set to vote next week on a rezoning application for the project site, with water usage and electricity grid impact also being significant community concerns.
Piedmont residents are actively organizing to oppose "Project Open Sky," a proposed data center development by Cloverleaf Infrastructure, with the goal of bringing the issue to a public vote. Spearheaded by local resident Ali Taylor, a group has launched three citizen initiative petitions targeting the project.
The petitions include a call for a temporary moratorium on data center development, a complete ban on facilities exceeding specific noise levels, and a requirement for citizen approval following impact studies. The group is aiming to collect 172 signatures to place these measures on a ballot. Concerns among residents in the agricultural town also extend to water usage, which they argue should prioritize local life and livestock over industrial needs.
David Berry, CEO of Cloverleaf Infrastructure, addressed the water concerns, explaining that the data center would utilize a closed-loop cooling system, similar to an air conditioner, to minimize continuous water intake. Berry also highlighted Piedmont's suitability for the project due to its strong existing electrical grid, which reduces the need for extensive transmission network rebuilding, and emphasized the potential for significant tax revenue to support community infrastructure.
The Piedmont City Council is scheduled to vote on a rezoning application for the data center site next Monday. The outcome of this vote and the success of the citizen petitions will determine the future of Project Open Sky in Piedmont.