Opposition mounts against proposed data center

Residents of Lowndes County, Alabama, are mobilizing against a proposed data center development in Burkville by Cloverleaf Infrastructure. Despite promises of approximately 50 local jobs and over $10 million in economic benefits, public outcry has escalated, leading to a community meeting on April 20 to unite concerns against the project. Social media influencer Gwen Johnson, a Millbrook resident and Lowndes County native, organized the gathering, explicitly inviting those opposed to the project. Johnson called for the formation of a coalition to gather information, attend county commission meetings, and hold local leaders accountable. The group began collecting signatures for petitions, aiming for 500 to formally oppose the development. District Judge Adrian Johnson, whose home is less than a quarter-mile from the proposed site, voiced concerns about the facility's immense scale, stating it would require three times as much power as currently used in all of Lowndes County. He also expressed doubts about local water authorities' ability to meet the data center's needs, citing the Meta data center in Hope Hull as an example of significant water consumption. Residents fear the destruction of their neighborhoods, the loss of peace, quiet, and the rural atmosphere. Longtime activist Barbara Evens emphasized the need for unity across all residents to combat projects that could harm the community. Gwen Johnson also raised allegations of political corruption, urging attendees to report any information regarding election fraud to law enforcement. The opposition group plans to hold another meeting in the future.