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re: Facebook/Meta data center solar farm - Mobile Bay area
Posted on 2/13/26 at 9:37 am to Jmcc64
Posted on 2/13/26 at 9:37 am to Jmcc64
quote:
there's a gigantic aluminum products plant going in just north of Ban Minette as well. I assume will take gigawatts of power.
It's an aluminum mill. They literally make aluminum there.
None of that changes the fact that the Novelis aluminum mill took years to permit and approve and had lots of public input. The town wanted the mill there. It brings lots of jobs and they made a number of agreements about pollution, traffic flow, etc... to make sure it was done right.
The solar farm was done overnight as quietly as possible in a way that minimized local input on purpose. It doesnt' provide much for jobs. It seriously harms a major local economic engine.
Alabama is not known for overbearing local land use laws. You can get a way with a lot. But the solar farm went too far.
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Posted on 2/13/26 at 10:47 am to OleBallCoach
OK Jeff Landry… no data centers do not bring many jobs - factually false…
Posted on 2/18/26 at 5:11 am to Jmcc64
The data center itself is being built in Montgomery, only the solar farm to add the electricity back to the grid is being built in Stockton, which is north Baldwin county. Alabama isn’t a solar friendly state though so I’m not sure how good of an investment this will be unless that part changes significantly
Posted on 2/18/26 at 6:26 am to tadman
It sucks. We told them to pound sand for years but someone bought up 3 ranches around us and it’s all going to solar.
We would have only had 1 800 yard side that HF with solar. We bought the 130 acres next door so it wouldn’t be bought up and will move house and shop to it. Will be looking to lease or buy something else in the area.
There’s a possibility once the project is done that they come asking for the 130 acres we just bought and depending on hunting we would probably throw that in on the project.
Payments start at $900 an acre with a 3% annual increase and end up with $2184 the last year. $1451 an acre is the average if the project runs 30 years. Could have got more but this contract has a better removal and cleanup clause.
We would have only had 1 800 yard side that HF with solar. We bought the 130 acres next door so it wouldn’t be bought up and will move house and shop to it. Will be looking to lease or buy something else in the area.
There’s a possibility once the project is done that they come asking for the 130 acres we just bought and depending on hunting we would probably throw that in on the project.
Payments start at $900 an acre with a 3% annual increase and end up with $2184 the last year. $1451 an acre is the average if the project runs 30 years. Could have got more but this contract has a better removal and cleanup clause.
This post was edited on 2/18/26 at 6:37 am
Posted on 2/18/26 at 6:44 am to lurking
We own a couple sub contractors that do data centers, most in that sector have minimal illegal workers
Posted on 2/18/26 at 7:10 am to DownshiftAndFloorIt
This is all very accurate. Especially the part about solar farms. Eyesores that contribute little. 5 Acres to generate 1 MW (on a good sunny day).
The greenwashing combination of solar, wind, and ethanol is all about wealth transfer, there is nothing “green” about any of these, and they aren’t competitive without massive taxpayer subsidies.
The greenwashing combination of solar, wind, and ethanol is all about wealth transfer, there is nothing “green” about any of these, and they aren’t competitive without massive taxpayer subsidies.
Posted on 2/18/26 at 7:32 am to artompkins
quote:
o add the electricity back to the grid
For half the day, on the best days only, without adding any inertia.
Solar has a place, and the grid in south alabama is certainly not it.
Posted on 2/18/26 at 9:59 am to tadman
I am wondering if Walmart is doing the same thing. They are buying a lot of wooded acres in far NW Arkansas. There is also a huge water line coming from Beaver Lake heading in that direction.
This post was edited on 2/18/26 at 10:04 am
Posted on 2/18/26 at 10:54 am to RetiredSaintsLsuFan
Yea Walmart has plans for mulitple data and logistic centers. Bidding on several of there future projects. One we just completed near Baytown in the warehouse district off 565 is massive. about 180 employees. Next one to come online will prob be Miss/Alabama and then another in NE Texas (Dallas area. Arkansas project is 2/3 years away but will essentially be the biggest and house everything. looking at building footprint alone to be more than 280 acres.
Posted on 2/18/26 at 11:09 am to OleBallCoach
quote:
Yea Walmart has plans for mulitple data and logistic centers. Bidding on several of there future projects. One we just completed near Baytown in the warehouse district off 565 is massive. about 180 employees. Next one to come online will prob be Miss/Alabama and then another in NE Texas (Dallas area. Arkansas project is 2/3 years away but will essentially be the biggest and house everything. looking at building footprint alone to be more than 280 acres.
Walmart has been working on Walmart City inside Bentonville for a few years now. They are moving their main office there. There will also be apartments and restaurants there. They are getting way too big.
Posted on 2/18/26 at 11:13 am to OleBallCoach
Delete - double post
This post was edited on 2/18/26 at 11:14 am
Posted on 2/18/26 at 11:47 am to RetiredSaintsLsuFan
quote:
Walmart has been working on Walmart City inside Bentonville for a few years now. They are moving their main office there. There will also be apartments and restaurants there.
Drove through there in October. Amazing how big it is.
I wonder if people that live in the houses on the campus own the houses or rent or what.
Posted on 2/18/26 at 11:58 am to RetiredSaintsLsuFan
yep your right the Bentonville location is amazing. I know change is not well taken and everyone will look at the negatives. But this is the direction the country is going and these large centers are going to be economy drivers. I tell kids all the time to focus on electrical, instrumentation, electronics and computer coding, and AI avenues in college. They are fast becoming the most in demand name your price professions.
Posted on 2/18/26 at 12:03 pm to wickowick
quote:
The hurricanes will feast
Afterwards, it'll be an easy way to pick up lightly used solar panels! Especially if they are blown into your yard.
Posted on 2/18/26 at 4:24 pm to DownshiftAndFloorIt
Agreed
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