Future of proposed massive data center in Piedmont up for city council vote
The Piedmont City Council is set to make a significant decision regarding the future of "Project Open Sky," a proposed data center development that could include up to six data centers. Local residents have expressed strong opposition, particularly over concerns about water usage, despite the developer's claims of using a closed-loop system.
The Piedmont City Council is scheduled to vote on the future of a proposed data center project, internally referred to as "Project Open Sky." This development could encompass as many as six data centers in Piedmont, Oklahoma.
Neighbors in Piedmont have voiced significant opposition to the proposal for several months. A primary concern for many residents in Oklahoma towns, including Piedmont, is water usage, especially given the region's agricultural focus. One resident was quoted expressing concern about allocating water to the data center when it is needed for life and livestock, emphasizing that Piedmont is an agricultural town, not an industrial one.
David Berry, CEO of Clover Leaf, the company behind the proposal, addressed water concerns by stating that their data centers do not continuously run water through the system. He explained that they utilize a closed-loop system, similar to an air conditioner, which cools things without constantly requiring new water input. Berry also indicated that if Piedmont rejects the proposal, Clover Leaf has already secured control of additional land elsewhere.