Brookwood Sets September Meeting to Discuss Data Center Projects

The City of Brookwood has sent out a "Communitywide Alert" to citizens announcing an important meeting on September 1. The alert states, "The purpose of this meeting is to provide information and address questions regarding proposed economic development projects associated with the Industrial Parkway."

The notice points out that only 50 people will have the opportunity to make comments and ask questions, due to the expectation that the 4:30 p.m. meeting at the G.G. Hardin Center will be lengthy.

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Because of the importance of the issue to the Brookwood community, only residents of the northeastern Tuscaloosa County city will be given the first chance to reserve one of the 50 available spots. If Brookwood citizens do not fill all 50 available speaking opportunities, the remaining spots will be opened to the general public.

The alert states the general public is welcome to attend, but the primary purpose of the called meeting is for the citizens of Brookwood.

To reserve a spot before the September 1 meeting, Brookwood residents are being instructed to email info@cityofbrookwoodal.gov and include their full name and address in the email.

Brookwood has been embroiled in debate over proposals for two separate and controversial data centers.

One is by Applied Digital and would be a 2-million-square-foot data center on 1,300 acres along Brookwood Parkway near Brookwood Middle School.

The second is referred to as "Project Brookwood LLC." The proposed "project" is unrelated to the Applied Digital project.

A newly formed company, Project Brookwood LLC, backed by Youngwoo & Associates, is seeking annexation and rezoning of 374 acres for another data center. The property for this project is just west of the other proposed site.

Brookwood's Planning & Zoning Commission has already recommended approval, with a City Council vote set for September 15.

Many Brookwood residents have been quite vocal in questioning the data center projects. They have been upset about nondisclosure agreements that have kept them in the dark. Concerns over the impact on utility rates, noise pollution and environmental issues have also been raised.

However, other residents at the recent planning and zoning meeting said they were not totally opposed to data centers but just wanted honest answers.

The September 1 meeting may provide the information they have been requesting.

There are currently between 13 and 21 operating data centers in Alabama. Fourteen to 23 more are in various stages of planning or construction. Secrecy about data center development has made confirmation of current or planned data centers difficult.