Greater Birmingham Humane Society sues over Nebius data center near planned animal campus

The Greater Birmingham Humane Society (GBHS) has initiated legal action against the City of Birmingham and developers Alabama ADC Holdings LLC and 201 Milan Birmingham LLC, seeking judicial review of permits issued for a proposed Nebius data center in Oxmoor Valley. The lawsuit, filed in Jefferson County Circuit Court, alleges that the data center's operational noise, heat, and lighting could adversely affect thousands of animals at GBHS's future animal welfare campus and veterinary hospital, which is slated to be built next door. GBHS President and CEO Allison Black Cornelius stated that the organization exhausted all administrative avenues before resorting to legal action, emphasizing a need for transparency regarding proper legal procedures given the project's proximity to residential areas and other community facilities.

This legal challenge compounds existing opposition from local residents, including Robert Sansome and John Hilley, who live near the proposed site. They have filed a separate lawsuit against Nebius, Hoar Construction, the City of Birmingham, and Lakeshore Data Center, alleging that constant construction noise, dust, and vibrations are disrupting their quality of life. A judge recently ordered a modified work schedule for crews, prohibiting starts before 8 a.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. on Saturdays. Testimony is ongoing to determine if a temporary injunction will be granted to halt construction entirely, a move that defense attorneys estimate could incur significant financial losses for developers, potentially requiring a bond from the plaintiffs in the tens of millions of dollars. Separately, the City of Leeds approved a one-year moratorium on data centers.