A plan for a data center is displayed before Bessemer City Council members during a hearing on Nov. 18, 2025 in Bessemer, Alabama. The council voted to approve rezoning for a data center that drew criticism from residents and environmental groups. (Andi Rice for Alabama Reflector)
BESSEMER — The Bessemer City Council Tuesday allowed a $14 billion data center to move forward over objections from residents and environmental groups who expressed concerns about water usage and pollution.
The council voted 5-2 to change a zoning designation from residential to light industrial, effectively clearing the final hurdle with Bessemer before construction can begin…