Conway releases document packet on data center project; mayor says no private action taken

Conway, Arkansas, residents expressed significant concerns at a recent City Council meeting over a proposed data center development known as "Project Stratus." A packed crowd voiced opposition regarding potential noise pollution, excessive water usage, and increased strain on the local power grid, urging city leaders to consider alternative locations for the project. Conway Mayor Bart Castleberry addressed the public, stating that no private actions related to the project have occurred and emphasized that any potential data center development would proceed slowly, over quarters and years, not months or weeks. The city's timeline for the proposal references Act 851, a 2023 Arkansas law designed to create a more favorable environment for crypto mining and digital asset operations by limiting local government restrictions. Despite the project being in its early stages, city documents revealed that Conway leaders have already taken preparatory steps. In July 2023, the city council approved noise level restrictions specifically for data centers, and subsequently updated its zoning code to define appropriate operating zones. Additionally, the city has annexed and rezoned acreage associated with the proposed site through its planning commission. Resident Jeremy Rice, who lives near the proposed Lollie Road site, believes the city has not conducted sufficient research given the development's scale. While a memorandum of understanding exists between the city and an unnamed developer, city officials reiterate that the project remains far from finalized.