Conway residents continue calling for answers on proposed data center
Conway residents are actively protesting a proposed data center near the municipal airport, gathering at City Hall to demand answers from local leaders. Key concerns include the project's significant water usage and potential impacts on infrastructure costs and utility bills, despite assurances from the Chamber of Commerce regarding water sources and discharge standards.
Residents in Conway, Arkansas, continue to voice strong opposition against a proposed data center near the Conway Municipal Airport. Ahead of a recent Conway City Council meeting, dozens gathered outside City Hall, holding signs and demanding transparency from elected representatives regarding the project's details, even though it was not on the official agenda.
A primary concern for residents is the significant water usage associated with data centers. According to an April Facebook post by Jamie Gates, Executive Vice President of the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce, the project is intended to use treated wastewater or grey water for cooling, assuring that it would not access drinking water for this purpose and that discharged water would meet existing wastewater standards.
However, residents remain skeptical, expressing fears about water contamination from chemicals used in cooling processes and the overall water demand, especially given recent water curtailments in the area. They also question who will bear the infrastructure costs and whether the project could lead to increased utility bills for taxpayers, asserting their resolve to continue fighting the development.