‘Absolutely nothing has been there’ — Residents, activists struggle to get answers on Bessemer data center

Residents and activists in Bessemer, Alabama, are expressing frustration over a lack of transparency surrounding Project Marvel, a proposed 1,600-acre data center development by Logistics Land Investment, a firm owned by Georgia-based TPA-Group. Over a year after its initial announcement, community members report difficulty obtaining information about the $14.5 billion project, which is slated to include 18 buildings.

Opposition to the data center is strong, with residents voicing concerns to city and county officials about potential increases in energy costs, environmental degradation, strain on local water resources, and negative impacts on the area's natural beauty due to noise and light pollution. Charles Miller, policy director of the Alabama Rivers Alliance, highlighted concerns about the state's antiquated water laws and the substantial water and power demands of data centers. Marshall Killingsworth, a landowner adjacent to the development, claims he submitted over 300 questions to the city council, zoning commission, mayor, and city attorney, but received no answers.

The situation is further complicated by admissions from several Bessemer city employees, including the mayor and city attorney, that they signed non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) related to the project. Activists like Miller argue that elected officials should not sign NDAs, as it undermines their responsibility to serve the public. Miller noted that community engagement against the project in Bessemer has reached "unprecedented levels," with residents self-organizing to oppose the development.