Third Data Center Proposed For Mobile Area; Calvert Project Sparks Community Concerns

CALVERT, Ala. (BuzzReport) — A third major data center project is now being proposed for the Mobile County area, this time targeting the industrial corridor of northern Mobile County near the region’s steel manufacturing hub.

The proposed development, backed by a company identified as Beacon Data Centers, is already generating questions from residents who say they were unaware of the project until information about a community meeting began circulating this week.

The BuzzReport obtained a copy of an email invitation announcing a public meeting regarding the proposed facility. According to the invitation, the meeting is scheduled for:

Wednesday, June 17, 2026
6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
AIDT Learning Center at ArcelorMittal Calvert
4 Second Street
Mount Vernon, Alabama 36560

While the company has listed a Mobile-area post office box as its address, residents say little additional information about the company or the project has been publicly released.

RESIDENTS QUESTION LACK OF PUBLIC NOTICE

The proposal is drawing criticism from some residents who say a project of this scale should have been accompanied by broader public notification and outreach efforts.

“We say no to a data center in our backyard. We don’t want this,” said David Jackson, a resident who lives near the proposed site.

Jackson also expressed concerns about the public engagement process.

“I’m concerned on why no notice about this has been issued to the public and citizens,” he said.

The concerns echo opposition that has surfaced in recent weeks from residents in Stockton and Prichard, where citizens have also raised questions about proposed data center developments and their potential impact on local communities.

PROJECT DETAILS

According to information obtained by The BuzzReport, the proposed Beacon Data Centers project would involve approximately 95 acres of development and promises significant economic investment in the area.

Project materials indicate the facility could create:

• Approximately 1,000 construction jobs during the development phase.
• An estimated 250 operational jobs once the facility becomes fully operational.

Developers describe the project as a major economic opportunity for northern Mobile County and the surrounding industrial corridor.

WATER USAGE CLAIMS

One of the biggest concerns often associated with large-scale data centers is water consumption.

However, project information states that the facility will utilize a closed-loop water system and will not use evaporative cooling, a method that can significantly increase water demand.

According to the project materials, South Alabama Utilities has confirmed the availability of approximately 7,500 gallons of public water usage per day and 7,500 gallons of sewer capacity per day.

Developers claim that level of consumption is comparable to that of a small office building employing roughly 250 workers.

POWER INFRASTRUCTURE

Energy consumption is another issue frequently raised by communities facing proposed data center developments.

Project documents state that Beacon Data Centers will pay for the electrical infrastructure necessary to support the facility and that any required upgrades to the local power grid would be funded by the project itself.

The information further states that the development’s location was selected because of its proximity to existing electrical infrastructure serving the industrial corridor.

Developers also contend that the project is structured so that residential, commercial, and industrial customers will not see increased utility bills as a result of the facility’s energy demands.

NOISE AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS

Noise pollution has become a major point of contention in data center projects across the country due to the large number of cooling systems, generators, and mechanical equipment often required to operate such facilities.

According to project documents, worst-case noise projections indicate sound levels at the property line would remain well below the allowable limit of 65 decibels.

Developers claim the resulting noise would be comparable to that of a household refrigerator.

The project also proposes substantial setbacks from neighboring properties, preservation of wooded buffer zones, and limited site disturbance in an effort to reduce visual and environmental impacts.

GROWING REGIONAL DEBATE

The Calvert proposal marks the third data center project proposed in the region in recent months, highlighting the Gulf Coast’s growing attractiveness to technology and infrastructure developers seeking access to power, fiber networks, industrial land, and transportation corridors.

However, the rapid emergence of multiple proposals has also fueled concerns among residents who fear decisions are being made without adequate public involvement.

As community members prepare to attend Wednesday’s meeting, many say they are looking for answers regarding the project’s long-term environmental impacts, utility demands, economic benefits, and overall effect on the character of the surrounding communities.

For now, the proposed Beacon Data Centers facility remains in the planning stages, but the debate surrounding its future is already underway.

The June 17 meeting is expected to provide residents with their first opportunity to hear directly from project representatives and ask questions about one of the largest technology-related developments proposed for northern Mobile County.