Project River: $11.3B Bradley County campus to revive logging, attract data center
Project River, an $11.3 billion proposed industrial campus by the Wright family in Bradley County, Tennessee, aims to attract a data center. It plans to generate 1,500 megawatts of behind-the-meter electricity using biomass and natural gas, promising to avoid drawing from public power or water grids. Developers are hosting community meetings in Cleveland to gather feedback, proactively addressing potential controversies.
Project River is an ambitious $11.3 billion industrial campus proposed for 850 acres in Bradley County, Tennessee, situated near Charleston and north of Cleveland. Developed by the Wright family, known for Wright Brothers Construction, the project aims to establish a self-powered campus capable of generating 1,500 megawatts of behind-the-meter electricity through a combination of 500 megawatts from a woody biomass plant and 1,000 megawatts from natural gas. This substantial power capacity is intended to serve a major industrial user, with a data center identified as the most likely candidate.
The developers emphasized transparency from the outset, acknowledging the controversies that have surrounded similar data center projects. They highlight that Project River is designed to be self-sufficient, meaning it would not draw electricity from the existing public grid or municipal water supplies, addressing common environmental and resource concerns.
To engage the community and gather feedback, the Wright family has scheduled two public meetings. The first is set for Tuesday, September 1st, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Pie Center in Cleveland, followed by a second meeting on Saturday, September 12th, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., also at the Pie Center. The project is projected to create up to 2,600 new jobs for the region.