Data center discussion dominates Pintlala water meeting
Members of the Pintlala Water System raised concerns about water supply and quality for a proposed data center at their annual meeting. A non-binding agreement with Cloverleaf Infrastructure, which would fund a new well to support the "Project Red Clay" data center, was discussed amidst resident worries about environmental impacts and board transparency.
The Pintlala Water System's annual meeting on September 13 became a forum for residents to express significant concerns regarding water usage and quality in connection with "Project Red Clay," a proposed hyperscale data center development. Lori Russell, whose mother is a system member, attempted to question the board on well capacity and water testing but was cut off, leading to an intervention by a Montgomery County Sheriff's deputy. Bradfield Evans criticized the board's handling of public input and called for revisions to their election process, citing a lack of transparency and fairness.
Pintlala Water System President Wayne Hatcher addressed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed on the board's behalf. This agreement aims to ensure residents are not burdened with the costs of supplying water for the data center. The MOU stipulates that Cloverleaf Infrastructure would fund a new well capable of producing 300 gallons per minute, which Hatcher stated would both meet the data center's needs and increase overall capacity for existing rural customers.
However, resident John Urquhart voiced environmental concerns, fearing that chemicals from the data center's planned closed-loop cooling system could leach into local ponds, soil, and ultimately contaminate wells and aquifers. Hatcher reassured members that the system would continue to monitor water contaminants according to federal and state laws, adhering to Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) standards, and that the data center would not jeopardize water quality, quantity, or price for current customers.