‘Pump the brakes’: Another Alabama city approves temporary ban for data centers

Another central Alabama municipality is opting to hit the pause button on data center expansion. The Leeds City Council, representing the suburb east of Birmingham, voted unanimously this week to implement a one-year moratorium on new permit approvals and property development for data center campuses and similar high-impact projects.

A Cautionary Approach

The decision, finalized during Monday night’s council meeting, aims to give local officials breathing room to evaluate the potential impact of such facilities. Addressing the crowd of roughly 50 attendees in historic downtown Leeds, Councilmember Cary Kennedy noted that data centers are seeking development opportunities everywhere. He stated that the year-long halt will allow the city to gather necessary information before moving forward.

This legislative move makes Leeds the latest Alabama city to temporarily block such developments, joining Birmingham, which is currently in the middle of a six-month pause.

Addressing Resident Concerns

The push for the moratorium was sparked by local resident Christy Johnson, who raised alarms two weeks ago after seeing social media chatter suggesting Alabama Power was marketing a site in Leeds to developers. While residents expressed fears over environmental impacts—specifically regarding the Cahaba River—Alabama Power has denied active recruitment in the area.

Company spokesperson Anthony Cook clarified in an email that the material cited by residents was an outdated marketing piece for a site that is no longer active and is not located within Leeds. According to Cook, there are no active projects involving the utility in the city.

Looking Ahead

While the current moratorium is limited to one year, members of the council expressed a desire for a more permanent solution through future zoning policy adjustments. Councilmember Sabrina Rose noted that while the city couldn't outright ban the facilities forever, the council would have if legally permitted. As the meeting concluded to applause, Councilmember Eric Turner signaled that the city remains committed to protecting the community's infrastructure and resources, including the local water supply.