Two public meetings set for this week about data centers in Lowndes, Marengo and Hale counties

Two public meetings are scheduled this week in Alabama's Black Belt region to discuss proposed data center projects. In Lowndes County, residents will learn more about a large 800-acre project, known as Project Red Clay, proposed for the Burkville area. Residents previously met to voice opposition and concerns regarding the project's potential impact on water usage, power grid strain, and neighborhood disruption. Simultaneously, environmental groups, including the Southern Environmental Law Center and Alabama Rivers Alliance, are hosting a Data Center Town Hall in Demopolis for residents of Marengo and Hale counties, which are also being considered for data center development. This meeting aims to inform residents about the potential environmental effects of data centers. Dr. Ozelle Hubert, Interim Executive Director of the Lowndes County Area Chamber of Commerce, stated that the county currently lacks the necessary framework to properly evaluate a data center of Project Red Clay's magnitude. In response, the chamber has hired Connect2 IPA, a national firm, to develop a structured evaluation process, an infrastructure readiness plan, and a community protection framework. This plan is designed to address issues such as emergency response coordination, water and energy analysis, environmental review, and workforce development. Hubert plans to present this framework to the Lowndes County Commission at an upcoming meeting, which will also involve the data center development entity, to ensure transparency and accountability in the evaluation process.