Congresswoman opposes Lowndes County data center, proposes federal moratorium
A U.S. Congresswoman is actively opposing a proposed $1.5 billion data center in Lowndes County, Alabama, due to concerns about its impact on the county's fragile water infrastructure and historical environmental injustices. She has introduced federal legislation, the AI Data Center Moratorium Act, to temporarily pause data center construction until comprehensive safeguards are established. Residents have also expressed strong opposition to the project.
Congresswoman Terri Sewell of Alabama's 7th Congressional District has publicly voiced her opposition to a proposed $1.5 billion data center in Lowndes County, Alabama, aligning with local residents' concerns. She highlighted the county's history of environmental injustice and strained infrastructure, emphasizing that the project requires greater scrutiny regarding its impact on water resources and potential to exacerbate existing problems. Residents have actively participated in public meetings and signed petitions, questioning the distribution of benefits and costs associated with the development.
Sewell expressed particular alarm over the project's potential strain on Lowndes County's fragile water infrastructure, referencing Meta's data center in nearby Hope Hull as a significant water user and citing issues in Newton County, Georgia, where a data center's construction led to contaminated drinking water. The Congresswoman also emphasized the racial and economic dimensions of the proposal, noting Lowndes County's majority-Black population and its history of economic neglect, arguing against perpetuating cycles of injustice in the AI economy.
To address these broader concerns, Congresswoman Sewell announced her proposal of the AI Data Center Moratorium Act. This federal legislation aims to temporarily halt the construction and expansion of AI data centers until Congress can establish comprehensive safeguards for environmental, economic, labor, privacy, and community impacts. Sewell affirmed her support for innovation and economic development but stressed the need for transparency, accountability, and protection for historically underserved communities.