Data centers emerge as top Alabama election issue as community concerns grow

Data centers emerge as top Alabama election issue as community concerns grow

A plan for a data center is displayed before Bessemer City Council members during a hearing on Nov. 18, 2025 in Bessemer, Alabama. Data centers have emerged as a top issue for voters across ideological spectrums as environmental and public health concerns rise. (Andi Rice for Alabama Reflector) Key points Data centers are not new to Alabama, but hyperscale artificial intelligence centers have raised concerns among communities over …