Greater Birmingham Humane Society raises concerns about proposed data center

The Greater Birmingham Humane Society (GBHS) has raised significant concerns regarding a proposed AI factory by Netherlands-based company Nebius near its new campus along Lakeshore Parkway in Birmingham, Alabama. The primary worry expressed by GBHS CEO Allison Black Cornelius is the continuous 24/7 sound from the data center, which she fears could cause extreme stress and behavioral issues in the animals housed at their new medical model campus, designed for trauma recovery. The Birmingham Zoning Board held a heavily attended meeting to discuss the proposal. While broader concerns about property value and environmental impacts were mentioned, the Humane Society's focus remains on noise levels. Black Cornelius stated that GBHS submitted a list of questions to Nebius but found the responses regarding noise levels to be lacking material information. Black Cornelius conveyed her sadness and disappointment, expressing fear for the animals and the community if the project proceeds without addressing these concerns. WBRC has reportedly reached out to Nebius for further comment on the sound and noise levels, indicating that the situation remains under review.