By Paris Rain, FOX23.com News Staff
OKMULGEE, Okla. — People in Okmulgee came together Tuesday night to organize against a data center planned in the county.
Many people who live in the community felt like they were made aware of this proposed project a little late and are now trying to work together to stop it.
“They’re popping up everywhere,” said Mackenzie Roberts, a member of the Stop Data Center Colonialism Coalition, “It’s almost like whack-a-mole and it’s like we can’t even catch our breath. The only way that we have a standing chance [is to] work together.”
It’s an effort Mackenzie said has become routine in Oklahoma. She helped put together Tuesday night’s town hall to keep the Okmulgee community informed and said it’s her third one.
“The first part is to inform people about the harmful effects of data centers, the impacts on property values, [the power] grid, different things like that,” said Roberts. “That other part of it…is to let people know what’s going on. You know, in reality, a lot of supporters of the data center keep saying that there’s nothing we can do, there’s nothing anybody can do, it’s already a done deal. There’s only one land planning permit that’s been obtained.”
One official in the meeting said he was just recently made aware of the project because of the town halls.
The proposed project is all in relation to a company based out of Texas called Fluidstack that’s looking to build a data center in Okmulgee County.
On the developer’s website, it says they are committed to transparency, local partnership, and environmental accountability. They are not looking for property tax incentives, and the tax revenue generated from the development will go directly to Okmulgee County, Okmulgee Public Schools, and Green Country Technology Center.
But like many communities when it comes to data centers, there are concerns.
“…The sound pollution effects from the data center, from both construction — and its 24/7 operation,” said Roberts. “Especially, you know, [we’re] worried about the adverse health outcomes that many people have been seeing in communities next to data centers.”
Toward the end of the meeting, people shared their concerns and asked questions and even gave suggestions. It’s a fight they said they won’t give up on until this data center is no longer a possibility.
The next town hall will be Monday at the Okmulgee Public Library.
