Data center ordinance heading to Birmingham City Council

The City of Birmingham is advancing a proposed city-wide ordinance designed to establish specific operating rules for data centers within its jurisdiction. The ordinance has been recommended to the full City Council by a special committee of the whole. The proposed rules specifically target "hyperscale data centers," defining them as facilities that consume over 30 megawatts of power. Councilor Darrell O'Quinn emphasized that not all data centers are equal, noting the existence of smaller facilities already operating in the city. He cited examples ranging from a 700-acre project in Bessemer that would use 1200 megawatts, to a DC BLOX facility on 16 acres operating at 49 megawatts at full build-out.