Brookwood mayor, developer discuss planned $3.2 billion AI factory

BROOKWOOD, Ala. —

Construction on the $3.2 billion Delta Forge 2 AI data center in Brookwood, Alabama, is set to begin Oct. 1, marking a major milestone for the community.

The facility will occupy 160 acres of a nearly 1,300-acre site and is expected to be completed by the end of 2028. Brookwood Mayor Joe Barger said the project has been in development for nearly two years.

“Economic development is not an overnight development, but it’s an opportunity to study what is coming for the future and making sure our city is ready to have the jobs and the opportunity and the quality of life for our citizens,” Barger said.

The data center, developed by Applied Digital, is set to become the largest taxpayer in Brookwood’s history. It is projected to generate more than $440 million in community benefits payments and tax revenue over the next 20 years, including $131 million for schools.

“This brings a great opportunity for jobs in our community, a better quality of life, and economic development always provides other opportunities for our citizens, such as maybe a grocery store, new medical opportunities to bring a medical facility here and just different things,” Barger said.

Applied Digital, which has completed four similar projects nationwide, emphasized its commitment to being a good neighbor in Brookwood.

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“We’re looking forward to getting to know folks and helping them to understand what we do and certainly helping to understand, from them, how they feel and how we can work together to make Brookwood just a great place to live,” Nick Phillips, executive vice president of external affairs, said.

The company also addressed concerns about noise, water usage and electricity costs, which have been issues with other data center projects in the region.

“We don’t actually use very much water. We have a closed-loop system. So we fill that up one time, and the water is expected to be in there for decades, and it just goes around in a circle. The rest of our water that we use for the facility is just for people. So bathrooms, kitchens, washing your hands, cleaning the facility, things like that. As far as electricity goes, we’ve never had a project that has caused rates for ratepayers to go up,” Phillips said.

The construction phase is expected to create more than 1,000 jobs, with 100 permanent positions available once the facility is operational.

“We are absolutely thrilled for this opportunity for our citizens, for our schools, for our medical coverage and all of West Alabama. This is not only impacting the citizens of Brookwood but West Alabama as a whole,” Barger said.

Phillips said the company plans to hold town halls and events to help the community get to know it.

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