See where Alabama’s data centers are — and their power and water use

Alabama is experiencing an unprecedented surge in data center development, with projects extending far beyond the figures initially reported by state officials. While the Alabama Commerce Department estimates roughly $2.4 billion in industry investment, an exhaustive review of proposed and active construction puts the actual value of the state's buildout closer to $63 billion. For a deeper dive into the industry's rapid expansion, read our full overview.

Mapping Alabama's Digital Infrastructure

To help residents visualize this massive footprint, 205focus has compiled an interactive map tracking at least 24 data center sites across 12 of Alabama's 67 counties. The current landscape is a mix of operational, under-construction, and planned facilities, all drawing heavily from the state's existing power and water resources. You can access the interactive map here to examine individual site costs, job creation, and utility demands.

Understanding the Facility Types

Not all data centers are built the same. The project landscape is categorized by facility type:

• Hyperscale: Massive centers typically dedicated to single cloud or AI providers, often generating significant public debate regarding utility usage.
• Colocation: Facilities functioning as landlords that lease server space to multiple tenants.
• Enterprise and small facilities: Projects smaller in scale, similar to typical office developments.
• Bitcoin mining: Specialized operations currently accounting for two sites in the state.

The Transparency Gap

Despite the multibillion-dollar scope of these projects, critical data remains hidden from public view. Of the 24 identified sites, only 14 have disclosed electricity requirements, and fewer than half have shared information regarding water consumption. Because there are no state-level regulations governing how much water these facilities may withdraw, critics like Charles Miller of the Alabama Rivers Alliance have described the current situation as a free-for-all.

Utility Costs and Consumer Impact

These developments come at a time when Alabamians are already managing some of the highest electric bills in the United States. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the average monthly residential bill hit $173.50 in 2024. Research from S&P Global highlights that national residential rates have outpaced inflation since 2020, partly driven by the rapid expansion of energy-intensive data centers.

Do you have questions about a development in your area? Let us know here, and our reporting team will look into it.