Video: Community pushes back against planned Okmulgee County data center
Community members in Okmulgee County, Oklahoma, are actively organizing against a proposed data center by Fluid Stack, citing concerns about property values, the power grid, sound pollution, and adverse health effects. They are holding town halls to inform residents and plan to continue their efforts to stop the project.
Community members in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, are mobilizing against a proposed data center project, with coalition member Mackenzie Roberts of "Stop Data Center Colonialism" leading town halls to inform the public. Residents express concerns about the project's late awareness and the perceived inevitability of its approval, which Roberts disputes by noting only a land clearing permit has been obtained. The town halls aim to educate people about potential negative impacts on property values, the electricity grid, and local health.
State Representative Scott Fetgatter stated he was recently made aware of the project through these community meetings, maintaining an agnostic stance but emphasizing the need for thorough questioning. The planned data center is by Fluid Stack, a Texas-based company, which claims commitment to transparency, local partnership, and environmental accountability, and states that tax revenue from the development would benefit Okmulgee County, Okmulgee Public Schools, and the Green Country Technology Center.
Despite the developer's claims, residents voice significant concerns, particularly regarding sound pollution from construction and 24/7 operation, and potential adverse health outcomes observed in other communities near data centers. The community is determined to continue its fight, with plans for another meeting, until the data center project is no longer a possibility.