Mobile County Commission Lacks Authority to Stop Data Center Project
The Mobile County Commission stated it has no authority to stop a proposed $6 billion data center by Beacon Data Centers in Calvert, Alabama, despite strong citizen opposition. Residents raised concerns about noise, water contamination, and environmental impact, and submitted a petition for a moratorium. The commission advised citizens to petition the Alabama Legislature for home rule and zoning powers.
The Mobile County Commission has stated it is powerless to prevent the development of a proposed $6 billion data center by Beacon Data Centers in Calvert, Alabama, despite strong community opposition. Citizens expressed concerns regarding noise pollution, water contamination, wetland destruction, and decreased property values during a commission meeting. Residents like Melissa Bailey and Lucille Kimble-Foster, representing a coalition of citizens, presented a petition with over 360 signatures, explicitly requesting an immediate moratorium on the project. They demanded a comprehensive, independent environmental and impact assessment and a dedicated public hearing to address the findings.
Commissioner Merceria Ludgood explained that Mobile County lacks "home rule" and zoning authority, meaning the commission cannot regulate or permit such facilities, leaving residents in unincorporated areas largely free to develop. Commissioner Randall Dueitt further noted that past attempts to implement home rule in Mobile County have failed overwhelmingly. The commission advised the opposing citizens to instead petition the Alabama Legislature to enact home rule and zoning laws for the county.
Beacon Data Centers plans for a 95-acre technology campus on a 650-acre tract, emphasizing its potential to create up to 1,000 construction jobs and 250 permanent jobs with an average annual salary of $115,000. The company cited available industrial land, electrical infrastructure, and workforce as reasons for selecting the Calvert location. However, residents like Linda Poiroux countered with research suggesting increased utility bills, water contamination including heavy metals, and noise pollution impacting local well-being and even livestock.