Lowndes County residents intensify fight against Project Red Clay data center
Residents in Lowndes County, Alabama, are intensifying their opposition to the proposed Project Red Clay data center, citing concerns about water use, electricity demands, noise, and impact on farmland. Opponents packed a county meeting, demanding more transparency and public input regarding the development. The Southern Environmental Law Center has filed open records requests to obtain more information about the project.
Residents of Lowndes County, Alabama, are escalating their efforts against the proposed Project Red Clay data center, expressing deep concerns about its potential impact on the rural county. At a recent county courthouse meeting, residents, including cattle farmer Bradfield Evans, pressed commissioners for more information, highlighting fears about water availability for agriculture, increased electricity demands, noise pollution, and the project's long-term effect on property values and the county's character.
The opposition group, Protect Lowndes County, argues that the community was not adequately consulted and should have had an opportunity to vote on the hyperscale data center development. Joseph Spraggins, another local resident, emphasized the personal impact, noting the project's proximity to his home and his desire for peace and quiet.
Assisting the residents, the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) has filed requests under the Alabama Open Records Act to obtain documents related to Project Red Clay, including studies and communications between county officials and the developer. Ryan Anderson, a staff attorney for SELC, explained that since Lowndes County lacks traditional zoning authority, transparency laws are a key legal avenue for residents to challenge the development. He added that SELC plans to continue filing public records requests, particularly concerning water usage, and will support residents in urging commissioners not to approve tax abatements for the developer.
Despite months of organizing and public comments, residents remain resolute, with their primary goal being the termination or relocation of the project and full disclosure of information surrounding its development.