Rylee Curry
SHREVEPORT, La. — Nearly 100 people gathered Thursday evening at Greenwood Acres Full Gospel Baptist Church in west Shreveport for a community-led town hall focused on the potential impacts of data centers and opposition to an Amazon data center planned for the area.
The forum, titled “The Truth about Data Centers,” featured presentations from community organizers and residents who raised concerns about environmental impacts, infrastructure demands and government oversight.
New Orleans-based community organizer KD Minor presented information about data centers across Louisiana, focusing on what organizers described as a lack of regulation surrounding Meta's data center project in Monroe. Minor said large-scale data centers can increase pollution, strain local resources and create economic challenges for surrounding communities.
Event organizer Derrick Henderson said he organized the meeting to encourage residents to become involved and voice their concerns about the proposed Amazon project in west Shreveport.
"We just thought it was important that we come together to talk about next steps — what we can do," Henderson said. "Pushbacks in New Orleans and other places have worked or delayed some of the progress as it relates to the construction of the data centers. So it's not a done deal."
Minor also warned attendees about what he said are potential impacts experienced in other parts of the country.
"We're seeing impacts all over the country from electrical power outages, water shortages and high electricity bills," Minor said. "Again, that will undoubtedly happen here, especially when we have such lax regulation around these things."
The event concluded with a question-and-answer session, during which presenters encouraged attendees to contact parish, city and state officials to express their concerns about the proposed project.
Attendee Tonya Williams said the meeting gave residents information they can use to become involved.
"I felt like it was very informative," Williams said. "They came to Shreveport to give us information about the impact on the community. I feel like it was very beneficial. She gave us a list of names, including Foster Campbell and other people we should contact to voice our opinions and concerns and try to see if we can make a difference."
Members of the organization No Data Centers 318 also attended the forum, collecting signatures opposing the proposed Amazon project. Organizers said they plan to continue their efforts to oppose the construction of additional data centers in the Shreveport area.
