Black Warrior Riverkeeper Raises Alarms Over Water Use Tied To West Alabama Data Centers
Environmental group Black Warrior Riverkeeper is raising concerns over proposed data centers in West Alabama, specifically 'Project Marvel' in Bessemer and a planned facility in Brookwood. Residents and environmentalists oppose these developments due to high electricity and water consumption, leading to local political debate and a federal 'AI Data Center Moratorium Act' being proposed.
Rapid data center development in West Alabama is sparking significant opposition, primarily due to concerns about high natural resource consumption. Two projects are highlighted: 'Project Marvel,' a $14.5 billion data center across the Tuscaloosa/Jefferson County line in Bessemer, and a $21.5 million facility proposed on 1,200 acres near Brookwood Middle School in Brookwood, being developed by an unnamed Texas-based company.
Residents, environmental groups like Black Warrior Riverkeeper, and politicians are pushing back against these developments. Opponents cite massive electricity demands that could strain local grids and millions of gallons of daily water usage, threatening local waterways and municipal supplies. The Bessemer project has become a central issue in the city's mayoral runoff election, and a request to pause the Brookwood project or allow a referendum was recently denied by Brookwood Mayor Joe Barger.
The broader political landscape includes the use of non-disclosure agreements by tech giants like Google, Meta, and Amazon, which critics say limit public input. While Alabama gubernatorial nominee Tommy Tuberville supports data center expansion for its tax revenue, his Democratic counterpart, Doug Jones, criticizes the lack of transparency and insult to local families. Federally, West Alabama Democrat Rep. Terri Sewell is backing the 'Artificial Intelligence Data Center Moratorium Act' (H.R. 9442 / S. 4214), introduced by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders, which proposes a moratorium on new data centers.
Public opinion is shifting, with recent polls indicating more opposition than support for nearby data centers. The contentious issue is also moving to the courts, with both developers and opposition groups initiating lawsuits over moratoriums, bans, or to block/delay construction.