Okmulgee County residents seek answers on proposed data center near wildlife refuge

Residents in Okmulgee County, Oklahoma, are expressing significant concerns about a proposed data center slated for construction near the Deep Fork Wildlife Refuge. The community has raised questions about the project's transparency, potential environmental impacts, and its proximity to a local retirement community, Baptist Village.

According to Ian Nichols of Fox 23 News, residents have filed numerous open record requests to obtain information regarding the data center's water usage, environmental studies, and infrastructure plans. Many of these requests, however, have reportedly been delayed or denied. Residents emphasize that while they are not entirely against the project, they demand proper procedures, no shortcuts, and sound scientific backing for all claims and questions.

A primary concern is the data center's location, bordering the Deep Fork Wildlife Refuge, which is home to several threatened and endangered species, including the federally endangered American burying beetle. Residents fear that constant lighting, noise, and heat from the facility could negatively impact the refuge's delicate ecosystem, potentially affecting wildlife migration and the broader ecological balance. Additionally, there are worries about how years of construction could impact emergency response times, traffic, and the health of elderly residents at the nearby Baptist Village retirement community.

Community members plan to continue their advocacy, aiming to get more answers on the project's water use, environmental impacts, and long-term effects at an upcoming public open house hosted by Fluid Stacks, the apparent developer, and a subsequent city council meeting.