Brookwood data center construction set to begin soon

BROOKWOOD, Ala. —

Construction is expected to begin soon on a proposed $3.2 billion data center in Brookwood, a project supporters say will bring jobs and millions of dollars in revenue to the area. Some nearby residents are concerned about its impact on the community.

The Delta Forge 2 AI data center, also known as Project Highlands, is planned for a nearly 1,300-acre site where land has already been cleared. About a dozen area residents spoke with us but did not want to go on camera. All but one said they were concerned about the project’s potential impact.

Larry Holloway, a longtime Brookwood resident and former mayor, said because of a non-disclosure agreement, residents only learned about the plans recently.

“The people don’t want it. Okay. There’s a lot of negatives, and we don’t have a whole lot of information because there has been no transparency,” Holloway said.

Holloway said he’s especially concerned about the project’s proximity to Brookwood Middle School, which is less than a mile away.

Current mayor Joe Barger said he believes the data center could create new opportunities for Brookwood.

“Economic development always provides other opportunities for our citizens, such as making a grocery store, new medical opportunities to bring a medical facility here,” Barger said.

According to Applied Digital, the data center is expected to bring about 100 permanent jobs and should not cause utility rate increases for customers. Holloway is skeptical.

“We’re paying the highest in the nation right now in Alabama. I don’t understand why, but it would go up based on these other data centers and the people that we’ve talked to,” Holloway said.

The Tuscaloosa County Economic Development Authority estimates the project will generate more than $440 million in community benefit payments and tax revenue over 20 years.

The Brookwood City Council still has to vote on the project. Barger says he expects that vote to happen in the next few weeks.