Piedmont crowd blasts proposed data center as residents warn of water and noise impacts
Piedmont residents held a large protest at a city council meeting against a proposed data center development by Cloverleaf Infrastructure, citing concerns about water and noise impacts. The City Council did not approve a motion to rezone land for the project, indicating that more studies are needed before any further decisions are made.
Piedmont residents gathered in large numbers at a City Council meeting to voice strong opposition to a proposed data center campus. The meeting focused on a motion to rezone a significant parcel of land for a data center campus, a move that was ultimately not approved by the council.
Concerns raised by citizens included potential noise pollution, with one resident playing a recording of what she claimed a data center sounds like. Other residents expressed worries about the consumption of land, water, and natural resources, and the potential for a deal not to be as beneficial as promised, advocating for written guarantees from the developer. Councilman Jonathan Heisey, representing Piedmont Ward Four, stated on social media that Cloverleaf will be required to submit a peer-reviewed water and wastewater impact study before the next city council meeting in August.
The proposed developer, Cloverleaf Infrastructure, indicated on their website a commitment to investing in cooling systems that do not consume water after an initial fill, and to cover costs for any necessary power or transmission upgrades to prevent these expenses from being passed to the community. They also committed to conducting noise analysis and stated they would not proceed with development in unwelcoming communities.