Residents seek accountability, written guarantees on $6 billion data center

3 months ago 10

Terry Williams of Mt. Vernon speaks during a community meeting on Monday, July 27, 2026, at the Mt. Vernon Community Center in Mt. Vernon, Ala. Approximately 50 people attended the meeting to hear concerns from residents over an estimated $6 billion data center that will be built in unincorporated Calvert. The project is backed by Beacon Data Centers, and residents say they are alarmed over what is a lack of transparency and trust with a project that could be under construction later this year.

Approximately 50 people attended a community meeting on Monday, July 27, 2026, at the Mt. Vernon Community Center in Mt. Vernon, Ala., to hear concerns from residents over an estimated $6 billion data center that will be built in unincorporated Calvert. The project is backed by Beacon Data Centers, and residents say they are alarmed over what is a lack of transparency and trust with a project that could be under construction later this year.

Lucille Kimble-Foster (right) and Gena Daniels (left) oversee a community meeting attended by approximately 50 people on Monday, July 27, 2026, at the Mt. Vernon Community Center in Mt. Vernon, Ala. The meeting was held for residents to voice concerns and questions about an estimated $6 billion data center that will be built in unincorporated Calvert. The project is backed by Beacon Data Centers, and residents say they are alarmed over what is a lack of transparency and trust with a project that could be under construction later this year.

Approximately 50 people attended a community meeting on Monday, July 27, 2026, at the Mt. Vernon Community Center in Mt. Vernon, Ala., to hear concerns from residents over an estimated $6 billion data center that will be built in unincorporated Calvert. The project is backed by Beacon Data Centers, and residents say they are alarmed over what is a lack of transparency and trust with a project that could be under construction later this year.

Approximately 50 people attended a community meeting on Monday, July 27, 2026, at the Mt. Vernon Community Center in Mt. Vernon, Ala., to hear concerns from residents over an estimated $6 billion data center that will be built in unincorporated Calvert. The project is backed by Beacon Data Centers, and residents say they are alarmed over what is a lack of transparency and trust with a project that could be under construction later this year.

Former Alabama Auditor Jim Zeigler, a GOP nominee for Public Service Commission in November, speaks with a resident during a community meeting on Monday, July 27, 2026, at the Mt. Vernon Community Center in Mt. Vernon, Ala. The meeting was held to allow residents to voice concerns about an estimated $6 billion data center that will be built in unincorporated Calvert. The project is backed by Beacon Data Centers, and residents say they are alarmed over what is a lack of transparency and trust with a project that could be under construction later this year.

State Rep. Phillip Ensler, D-Montgomery, and a candidate for lieutenant governor in November, speaks during a community meeting on Monday, July 27, 2026, at the Mt. Vernon Community Center in Mt. Vernon, Ala. The meeting was held to allow residents to voice concerns about an estimated $6 billion data center that will be built in unincorporated Calvert. The project is backed by Beacon Data Centers, and residents say they are alarmed over what is a lack of transparency and trust with a project that could be under construction later this year.

Approximately 50 people attended a community meeting on Monday, July 27, 2026, at the Mt. Vernon Community Center in Mt. Vernon, Ala., to hear concerns from residents over an estimated $6 billion data center that will be built in unincorporated Calvert. The project is backed by Beacon Data Centers, and residents say they are alarmed over what is a lack of transparency and trust with a project that could be under construction later this year.

Gena Daniels of Mt. Vernon speaks during a community meeting on Monday, July 27, 2026, at the Mt. Vernon Community Center in Mt. Vernon, Ala. The meeting was held to allow residents to voice concerns about an estimated $6 billion data center that will be built in unincorporated Calvert. The project is backed by Beacon Data Centers, and residents say they are alarmed over what is a lack of transparency and trust with a project that could be under construction later this year.

Lucille Kimble-Foster speaks during a community meeting on Monday, July 27, 2026, at the Mt. Vernon Community Center in Mt. Vernon, Ala. The meeting was held to allow residents to voice concerns about an estimated $6 billion data center that will be built in unincorporated Calvert. The project is backed by Beacon Data Centers, and residents say they are alarmed over what is a lack of transparency and trust with a project that could be under construction later this year.

Austin Sidwell of Fairhope, a Republican candidate seeking Alabama's 1st congressional district nomination in next month's special primary election, speaks during a community meeting on Monday, July 27, 2026, at the Mt. Vernon Community Center in Mt. Vernon, Ala. The meeting was held to allow residents to voice concerns about an estimated $6 billion data center that will be built in unincorporated Calvert. The project is backed by Beacon Data Centers, and residents say they are alarmed over what is a lack of transparency and trust with a project that could be under construction later this year.

Approximately 50 people attended a community meeting on Monday, July 27, 2026, at the Mt. Vernon Community Center in Mt. Vernon, Ala., to hear concerns from residents over an estimated $6 billion data center that will be built in unincorporated Calvert. The project is backed by Beacon Data Centers, and residents say they are alarmed over what is a lack of transparency and trust with a project that could be under construction later this year.

State Rep. Shane Stringer, R-Citronelle, speaks during a community meeting on Monday, July 27, 2026, at the Mt. Vernon Community Center in Mt. Vernon, Ala. The meeting was held to allow residents to voice concerns about an estimated $6 billion data center that will be built in unincorporated Calvert. The project is backed by Beacon Data Centers, and residents say they are alarmed over what is a lack of transparency and trust with a project that could be under construction later this year.

Former Alabama Auditor Jim Zeigler, a current GOP nominee for Alabama Public Service Commission, speaks during a community meeting on Monday, July 27, 2026, at the Mt. Vernon Community Center in Mt. Vernon, Ala. The meeting was held to allow residents to voice concerns about an estimated $6 billion data center that will be built in unincorporated Calvert. The project is backed by Beacon Data Centers, and residents say they are alarmed over what is a lack of transparency and trust with a project that could be under construction later this year.

Gena Daniels of Mt. Vernon oversees a community meeting on Monday, July 27, 2026, at the Mt. Vernon Community Center in Mt. Vernon, Ala. The meeting was held to allow residents to voice concerns about an estimated $6 billion data center that will be built in unincorporated Calvert. The project is backed by Beacon Data Centers, and residents say they are alarmed over what is a lack of transparency and trust with a project that could be under construction later this year.

State Rep. Phillip Ensler, D-Montgomery, and a candidate for lieutenant governor in November stands next to former Alabama Auditor Jim Zeigler, a GOP candidate for Alabama Public Service Commission, during a community meeting on Monday, July 27, 2026, at the Mt. Vernon Community Center in Mt. Vernon, Ala. The meeting was held to allow residents to voice concerns about an estimated $6 billion data center that will be built in unincorporated Calvert. The project is backed by Beacon Data Centers, and residents say they are alarmed over what is a lack of transparency and trust with a project that could be under construction later this year.

Lucille Kimble-Foster speaks during a community meeting on Monday, July 27, 2026, at the Mt. Vernon Community Center in Mt. Vernon, Ala. The meeting was held to allow residents to voice concerns about an estimated $6 billion data center that will be built in unincorporated Calvert. The project is backed by Beacon Data Centers, and residents say they are alarmed over what is a lack of transparency and trust with a project that could be under construction later this year.

Melissa Bailey speaks during a community meeting on Monday, July 27, 2026, at the Mt. Vernon Community Center in Mt. Vernon, Ala. The meeting was held to allow residents to voice concerns about an estimated $6 billion data center that will be built in unincorporated Calvert. The project is backed by Beacon Data Centers, and residents say they are alarmed over what is a lack of transparency and trust with a project that could be under construction later this year.

As plans move forward for a $6 billion data center expected to begin construction in north Mobile County this fall, about 50 residents gathered at a community center in Mt. Vernon on Monday alongside local politicians and political candidates, seeking answers and assurances that one of South Alabama’s largest proposed developments will be built responsibly.

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