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Residents warn of water, noise and power risks from planned data center expansion; city and company offer clarifications
Summary
Residents and a lake‑homeowners association told the Columbiana City Council they were concerned that a planned data‑center expansion in the industrial park could strain local water and power systems and produce noise and light impacts near a junior high school.
Residents and a lake-homeowners association urged the Columbiana City Council to scrutinize a planned expansion of a data center in the industrial park, raising concerns about water use, noise, light, air pollution and potential effects on utility rates.
Garen Jensen, president of the Lay Lake Homeowners and Boat Owners Association, told the council that data centers consume large volumes of water and power and that one already operating near Columbiana had prompted worries about aquifer depletion, noise and light near a nearby junior high school. “There are negative effects of data centers. They consume huge amounts of energy,” Jensen said, adding the facilities can require extensive cooling systems and generate noise and light that affect nearby neighborhoods.
Council members and the mayor responded during public comment. A representative for…
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