Texas Developer To Hold Community Meeting About Massive Data Center Planned for Brookwood
Applied Digital is holding a community meeting in Brookwood, Alabama, to address resident concerns about its $3.2 billion Delta Forge 2 AI data center project. The project, which received tax incentives from the Tuscaloosa County Economic Development Authority, is facing opposition regarding transparency, infrastructure, water usage, power rates, and environmental impacts. The Brookwood City Council is expected to vote on the project in the coming weeks.
A Texas-based developer, Applied Digital, is slated to construct a $3.2 billion Delta Forge 2 AI data center in Brookwood, Alabama. The project has already secured unanimous approval for tax incentives from the Tuscaloosa County Economic Development Authority (TCEDA) for its 1.3 million square foot campus. However, the development has sparked significant local opposition, with residents, including former mayor Larry Holloway, expressing concerns over a lack of transparency due to non-disclosure agreements signed by city officials.
In response to the community's apprehension, Applied Digital will host a meeting at the G.G. Hardin Center to provide more information and address key issues. Residents have raised concerns about the data center's impact on local infrastructure, water usage, power rates, environmental effects, and its proximity to Brookwood Middle School. The TCEDA projects substantial economic benefits, including over $440 million in community payments and tax revenue over two decades, and the creation of approximately 1,000 construction jobs and 100 full-time positions. The Brookwood City Council is anticipated to vote on the project in the coming weeks. Other developers, Youngwoo & Associates and Provident Data Centers, also own rezoned land in the area for potential data center campuses.