BESSEMER, Ala. (WBRC) -Bessemer’s Mayor-elect says a controversial data center project drove people to the polls. Mayor Kenneth Gulley and other leaders who voiced support for “Project Marvel” were voted out of office after Tuesday’s runoff elections.
Data centers are turning into a hot button issue around the country. In Bessemer, there has been loud opposition to “Project Marvel”, a massive data center development.
For several months, neighbors have been worried about environmental impacts, infrastructure and potential strain on power and water from the hyperscale data center development. Bessemer voters also questioned a non-disclosure agreement signed by Mayor Gulley and others.
Dr. Benjamin Gross, Associate Professor of Political Science at Jacksonville State University, said the fight over data centers is still new, and it may come down to how parties frame the issue to sway voters.
Gross said because this is a novel issue, people are not locked into their usual partisan positions on data centers…