Compass addresses concerns over data center electric, water usage

Compass Datacenters Vice President of Campus Strategy Sarah Ridgely met with Meridian and Lauderdale County leaders to address community concerns regarding the environmental impact and utility demands of its new $10 billion data center campus. The project, located in an industrial park along I-20/59, involves eight buildings with groundwork beginning in June 2025 and the first building under construction since February. Ridgely emphasized the company's commitment to being a "good neighbor," influencing decisions from building design to landscaping and noise compliance. She specifically tackled resident anxieties about electric and water usage, explaining that the data centers would utilize a closed-loop cooling system, thus avoiding continuous draw on local water resources, with municipal water only used for small office spaces. Regarding electricity, Ridgely assured leaders that Compass Datacenters would bear the full cost of all necessary infrastructure upgrades. These upgrades would not only support the data campus but also benefit the wider community by providing enhanced access to power for other businesses. Mississippi Power is slated to supply the campus, with each building equipped with backup generators, for which noise mitigation is a community engagement priority. The campus is expected to create 240-300 full-time jobs once all eight buildings are complete.