South Alabama residents loudly reject proposed data center: ‘Community has spoken’

Another south Alabama community is making its voice heard, and this time, the message is a clear rejection of a proposed data center.

On Thursday, tensions flared at the Prichard City Hall auditorium as residents met with representatives from Edged Energy to discuss a proposed data center in the city. The meeting took place in a sweltering room lacking air conditioning, a situation that only intensified the frustration of the roughly 200 attendees.

A Heated Debate

Ramsey Sprague, president of the Mobile Environmental Justice Action Coalition, noted the difficulty of the environment: “It’s hot, and people are irritated. It’s hard to absorb new information when people are yelling and shouting.”

Edged Energy, which first unveiled plans for the site on Telegraph Road back in April, attempted to address public skepticism. Garland Christopher, a spokesperson for the firm, emphasized that this facility is smaller than many others in their portfolio and will focus on networking and connectivity rather than artificial intelligence. The proposed site, which sits on the border of Africatown and Prichard, previously housed a 911 data center.

Community and Environmental Concerns

Residents remain deeply skeptical, particularly regarding water usage. Prichard’s water and sewer system is in crisis, with the utility losing roughly 60% of its water and grappling with frequent sanitary sewer overflows.

Christopher claimed the company would utilize a “waterless” closed-loop cooling system and bring in its own water supply, stating, “The last thing we want to do is add to this crisis.” He also pointed to promised infrastructure improvements and minimal air emissions as potential benefits. Despite these assurances, the opposition remains resolute.

Africatown and Future Decisions

The project's proximity to Africatown—a community founded by survivors and descendants of the Clotilda—has added a layer of historical sensitivity to the discourse. Critics argue the area is already disproportionately burdened by industry. One attendee drew a sharp comparison, stating, “This is the equivalent of building next to Colonial Williamsburg.”

Becca Parsons, representing Edged Energy, noted that while a portion of the nine-acre property falls within the Africatown Overlay, the company does not intend to develop that specific area. Still, the final word rests with the Prichard City Council.

Prichard Mayor Carletta Davis acknowledged the intensity of the meeting, remarking, “The community has spoken, I think very loudly this afternoon.”

While Edged Energy projects 200 construction jobs and 20 permanent roles, the path forward remains uncertain. Edged Energy declined to provide further comment to 205focus.com following the event.