Hallam residents voice opposition to data center proposals

Monolith and its partner Crusoe Energy hosted their second town hall meeting in Hallam, Nebraska, this summer to address community concerns regarding proposed data center developments. While Monolith CEO Russell Webb previously gave a presentation in July, representatives from both companies were present at the most recent town hall to answer questions from local residents.

Approximately a few dozen locals attended the meeting, with the discussion focusing more on Denver-based Crusoe Energy, an AI infrastructure company. Residents, including Taylor Bartels, who moved to Hallam a little over a year ago for its quiet community, expressed significant distress. Bartels stated, "Hallam is turning into an industrial war zone," lamenting the loss of the town's peaceful atmosphere. He cited ongoing construction at the Panama Energy Center, a large solar farm, as well as the new data center proposals, as contributing to the perceived industrialization of the area. Locals highlighted the "strain and stress" they are experiencing as a small community grappling with multiple large-scale industrial projects in a short amount of time.

Some residents noted that Crusoe Energy has been more approachable than Monolith, with one woman wishing the process had started with Crusoe bringing the idea to the community first, rather than Monolith initiating with permit applications.