Tell Birmingham communities need a say in data center decisions

Tell Birmingham city council that communities need a say in data center decisions

The only way to guarantee hyperscale data center proposals are transparent, responsible, and bring economic benefits is to have communities in the room where zoning decisions are being made.

When data centers became front page news across Alabama, the Birmingham City Council paused new data center development and started a thoughtful conversation on how to get the process right. The first draft of the city’s data center plan was strong. It included rules limiting pollution from noise and fossil fuels, and an important provision called a “special use” requirement for hyperscale data center proposals in areas zoned for light industrial or mixed use. This special use rule would give communities a voice in the process including public hearings and participation from impacted neighborhood associations. It would also give the city the power to create special conditions for data centers proposed in these areas, so they’re not beholden to a one-size-fits-all approach.

Now the city wants to remove the special use rule, allowing hyperscale data centers to come to these more sensitive areas without additional public oversight. Tell the city council not to water down its data center plan, and to keep communities in the conversation.

Recipients: City Council of Birmingham, AL

This campaign is only for residents of Birmingham, AL

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Please put the special use requirement back in the data center ordinance. While the draft ordinance contains important, forward-thinking provisions, communities deserve to have a seat at the table if a hyperscale data center is proposed for light industrial or mixed used neighborhoods. These sensitive communities have more homes and small businesses, and there must be thoughtful conversations with the city and the community to guarantee a data center is the right fit.   
 
The only way to guarantee proposals in sensitive areas are transparent, responsible, and bring economic benefits worth the risk is to have communities in the room where decisions are being made. The city also needs flexibility to create special conditions for data centers in these areas. This is a developing industry, and a one-size-fits-all approach may not give the city the flexibility to manage data centers long term.  
 
Please ensure the ordinance keeps communities in the conversation by restoring the special exception.

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