‘We have to evolve’: Hobart mayor defends data center amid community backlash

Hobart Mayor Josh Huddlestun is actively defending a proposed $15 billion data center, reportedly funded by Amazon, against strong community opposition and legal challenges. Residents have voiced concerns at common council and plan commission meetings regarding potential negative environmental, economic, and quality-of-life impacts on Hobart citizens. Despite these objections and ongoing lawsuits, Mayor Huddlestun asserts that the city must "continue to evolve in order to be sustainable into the future." The article notes that trucks are already moving dirt at the data center site, indicating ongoing construction efforts for the project.