‘You’re not welcome’: AI data center planned for Lowndes County prompts backlash

For Marie Barnes, a retired Marine who settled into rural Lowndes County four years ago seeking peace and quiet, the prospect of a massive artificial intelligence data center popping up just 800 feet from her property line is a non-starter.

Barnes was among roughly 50 protestors who gathered outside Hayneville Middle School on Wednesday to voice their firm opposition to Project Red Clay. While Cloverleaf Infrastructure executives held an open house inside the cafeteria to detail their $1.5 billion vision, the scene outside was defined by lawn chairs and protest signs like “Keep Lowndes County Wild.”

A Divided Community

Inside, the atmosphere was charged. While Cloverleaf representatives donned navy polos to field questions at various information stations, local opponents were equally visible, wearing shirts emblazoned with “PROTECT LOWNDES COUNTY.” For residents like Ann Burgwin Faulkner, a member of the opposition group 45Strong, the company's presence felt tone-deaf. “Cloverleaf has stated that they would not come to communities where they’re unwelcome,” Faulkner said. “Look around. You’re not welcome.”

Cloverleaf CEO Dave Berry maintained that the session was designed to listen, not to persuade. “These events are not to try to persuade people,” Berry stated. “It’s to have conversations with real human beings.”

The Case for Development

While local residents express concerns regarding noise, environmental impact, and quality of life, Lowndes County Commission Chair Charlie King, Jr. argues that the project is a necessary lifeline. King, who has served as chair for 20 years, highlighted that the county suffers from significant economic decay, declining infrastructure, and residents fleeing for better opportunities elsewhere. According to reports, the area struggles with long commute times to distant job options and persistent economic stagnation.

“I want my people here to do better,” King said. “Lowndes County is bleeding. We need to stop that bleeding.”

Economic Promises vs. Local Realities

Cloverleaf touts the potential for 1,000 to 2,000 construction jobs and between 50 and 200 permanent technical positions with starting salaries of $75,000. Additionally, the company has pledged $10 million to the Central Alabama Community Foundation, with funds tied to project milestones. Orbuty Ozier, Mayor of neighboring Gordonville, expressed optimism that local education initiatives could prepare students for these roles.

However, many residents remain skeptical. Lowndes County is a historic site for civil rights that faces deep-seated challenges, including a poverty rate where one in four residents are affected and a life expectancy of 70.3 years, lower than the state average. Past struggles, such as the county's sanitation crisis, have left some residents wary of large-scale promises.

The project arrives during a period of major political transition. A U.S. Supreme Court ruling recently upheld redistricting that will shift Lowndes County from District 7 to District 2, a move critics believe will diminish Black voter representation.

For now, the project remains in the early stages, with Cloverleaf holding contracts on 800 to 1,000 acres at the intersection of U.S. Highway 80 and Alabama Highway 21. For residents like Barnes, who says she is 66 and has no intention of moving, the fight to preserve her community's character is just beginning.