Lowndes County Commission approves minutes advancing Red Clay data center as residents protest
The Lowndes County Commission approved minutes documenting an agreement that allows Cloverleaf Infrastructure's proposed Project Red Clay data center to move forward. Residents opposed to the location have filed a lawsuit seeking to stop construction, while commissioners and the developer face criticism over transparency and the project's proximity to homes.
The Lowndes County Commission approved minutes from a prior meeting that included development and tax agreements allowing Cloverleaf Infrastructure's proposed Project Red Clay data center to proceed. Construction is expected to begin early next year near Highway 80 and Alabama 21, west of Montgomery Regional Airport. The project is projected to generate $124 million annually in taxes, with more than half designated for public schools; the agreement also requires the developer to minimize water use and pay its own power costs.
Residents living near the proposed site said they were not adequately informed about the agreement and object primarily to the project's location near homes. Some residents have filed a lawsuit seeking to stop construction. Commissioner Dickson Farrior, one of two commissioners opposed to the project, voted against approving the minutes and called for an independent study, while Cloverleaf CEO David Berry promised additional communication with the community.