5 Alabama news stories you missed this week: April 18th - April 24th
The Bessemer City Council in Alabama has approved the rezoning of nearly 900 acres, giving a massive $14.5 billion data center project the green light. The site has expanded to roughly 1,600 acres, but nearby residents are concerned about noise, electricity and water usage, and environmental protection.
The Bessemer City Council has approved the rezoning of nearly 900 acres for a massive $14.5 billion data center project in Bessemer, Alabama. This decision gives the project the green light, expanding the total site from an initial 677 acres to approximately 1,600 acres. The expansion was necessary to avoid conflicts with the state's planned Northern Beltline Highway, leading to the rezoning of nearby agricultural land to light industrial use.
City leaders and the unnamed developers are touting this as potentially one of Alabama's largest private investments. However, many residents living closest to the site have expressed significant concerns regarding noise, electricity and water usage, and environmental protection. This approval follows months of delays, public hearings, complaints of secrecy, NDAs signed by city leaders, and even a lawsuit, indicating ongoing local opposition.