What we know about the $1.5B data center eyeing Lowndes County

After a year-long search for the perfect site, a Houston-based developer is setting its sights on Lowndes County for an ambitious $1.5 billion artificial intelligence data center. The project, dubbed Project Red Clay, is being spearheaded by Cloverleaf Infrastructure and would transform 800 acres at the intersection of U.S. Highway 80 and Alabama Highway 21 in Hayneville.

Community Impact and Concerns

The proposal has not arrived without pushback. Residents have packed county commission meetings to voice their concerns, leading to a petition against the project signed by more than 1,000 locals. A group known as 45 Strong is currently leading efforts to oppose the development. Local voting activist Perman Hardy, whose home is just 15 miles from the site, expressed anxiety over the lack of transparency and potential impacts on the nearby Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail.

In response to the tension, Cloverleaf is hosting an open house at Hayneville Middle School this Wednesday from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Company representatives and industry experts will be on-site to address community questions directly.

Inside the Project

Aaron Bilyeu, chief development officer at Cloverleaf Infrastructure, emphasizes that the site will not house crypto operations and will remain under domestic ownership. Bilyeu, who previously oversaw the launch of Meta’s data center in Montgomery, noted that the facility would serve the high-density computing needs of AI language models, such as those that power OpenAI’s ChatGPT or Microsoft’s CoPilot.

"We understand that the community is going to have questions about large scale data centers," Bilyeu told 205focus.com. "We are committed to being open and transparent about their concerns and listening to their concerns."

Infrastructure and Economics

The project is strategically positioned to tap directly into existing Alabama Power transmission lines, a move Bilyeu says will minimize local disruption. While the facility requires significant utility support, Bilyeu stated that the developer will fully fund any necessary substation upgrades. The project also plans to utilize a closed-loop cooling system to manage its water usage.

Economic benefits are a major part of the pitch, with Cloverleaf pledging $10 million toward community needs, such as fire department equipment, through the Central Alabama Community Foundation. The development is projected to bring 1,000 to 2,000 construction jobs over a three-year span, followed by 100 to 200 permanent roles. Bilyeu indicated that many of these positions could start at $75,000 annually and that the company intends to hire locally whenever possible.

As for the project's status, Cloverleaf currently holds options to purchase the land and has not yet applied for permits. Bilyeu also clarified that the company has not requested property tax breaks, nor does it utilize the non-disclosure agreements that have fueled controversy in other Alabama data center projects.

Margaret Kates contributed to this report.