Jones' town hall prioritizes community voices
Former U.S. Sen. Doug Jones used a Fort Deposit town hall to call for a one-year moratorium on new data center construction in Alabama. He said the pause would allow residents, local governments, utilities and developers to establish safeguards addressing utility costs, noise, environmental impacts and local control.
Former U.S. Sen. Doug Jones, a candidate for Alabama governor, called for a one-year moratorium on data center construction during a campaign town hall in Fort Deposit. He said the pause could end earlier if residents, local officials, utility companies and technology developers agree on protections addressing rising utility bills, noise, environmental concerns and developer commitments.
The discussion also focused on expanding local authority over zoning and development in Lowndes County. Residents raised broader concerns about education funding, teacher compensation and the future of the Lowndes County Board of Education’s Head Start program, while Jones advocated stronger community input and additional restrictions on data center development statewide.