Hannah Denham
@hdenham.bsky.social
Investigative reporter in Alabama covering data, money, power for @al.com | hdenham@al.com | previously Washington Post, Tampa Bay Times, Washington Business Journal | she/her 🌈
NEW: Applied Digital officially announced its $3.2 billion AI factory is coming to Brookwood, Alabama. Here's what we know: www.al.com/business/202...
Data center company confirms $3.2 billion hyperscale AI factory for Alabama
The data center campus planned for Tuscaloosa County is expected to start operating in 2028.
al.com
NEW: In the lawsuit, the shareholder is accusing Nebius of defrauding the Birmingham-based bank of $66M when the company bought the Oxmoor Valley property www.al.com/business/202...
Data center company sued again in Birmingham – by a Regions Bank shareholder
The lawsuit filed in early September focuses on the sale of the property from Regions Bank to Nebius.
al.com
The abandoned site of a World War II-era explosives plant in Alabama could be getting a new use. Here's what we know about the data center proposed for Childersburg: www.al.com/business/202...
Site of World War II-era plant that helped build atomic bomb eyed for Alabama data center
The explosives plant played a key role in World War II, as well as in Childersburg's growth. Now, a change could be coming for the vacant site.
al.com
Only three counties out of Alabama's 67 have the legal authority to regulate land use -- including for data centers. Here's why, with @johnsharp99.bsky.social: www.al.com/news/2026/09...
‘No authority’: Helpless on data centers, Alabama counties caution against industry-specific zoning
County commissions are grappling with how to navigate their own lack of authority amid rising pressure from their constituents to regulate data centers.
al.com
BREAKING: Alabama’s Democratic candidate for governor blasted his opponent today for his stock trading and holdings with tech companies tied to data centers. He's calling for state reform in financial reporting + data center regulations www.al.com/election/202...
Doug Jones blasts Tuberville’s financial ties to data centers, calls for strict ethics laws
How to handle the data center industry has quickly become a major political issue in Alabama's gubernatorial election this fall.
al.com
A data center company with land and development permits in Brookwood, Alabama has donated $25K to Tuberville’s campaign for governor. with @ruthservensmith.bsky.social: www.al.com/news/2026/08...
Data center company tied to Alabama project donates $25,000 to Tuberville campaign
The company is connected to a potential data center project in Tuscaloosa County, as well as major projects across the country.
al.com
BREAKING: Local backlash to the planned Project Marvel data center had a major impact on the election results yesterday. After delays to the official numbers, we got 'em. Here's what went down: www.al.com/news/birming...
Bessemer mayor faces runoff as data center backlash reshapes city council
About 3,800 voters in Bessemer showed up to the polls on Tuesday.
al.com
Things got a bit spicy at last week's Brookwood city council meeting, which addressed proposed data centers. Story from @hdenham.bsky.social and I for @al.com. Includes full vid. www.al.com/business/202...
‘They don’t care’: Residents fight back against data center proposed near Tuscaloosa
At least one data center company is exploring a new campus in Brookwood, a small town of roughly 5,000 residents.
al.com
NEW: All of Bessemer's city offices were up for grabs in Tuesday's election, but no results are finalized yet. Here's what we know about what happened in the chaos at city hall: www.al.com/election/202...
Bessemer election results are on hold amid confusion at city hall
All of Bessemer's city offices were up for grabs in Tuesday's election, but no results are finalized yet.
al.com
Yes, this Lowndes County.... www.theroot.com/the-alabama-...
The Alabama Black Belt Left to Drown in Sewage After DEI Reversal
theroot.com
Hannah Denham@hdenham.bsky.social · last mo.From last night's meeting in Lowndes County, a rural community in central Alabama, where residents are pushing the county commission for answers about a $1.5 billion hyperscale data center on the way www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJae...
Covering the Bessemer local election today with @newsmanbryant.bsky.social + Michaela Yielding. The controversy over the data center and elected officials signing non-disclosures will be interesting to see play out in the polls today. www.al.com/news/birming...
All city offices up for grabs as Bessemer voters select mayor, council and school board today
Here's who is running for city seats in Bessemer August 25, 2026.
al.com
From last night's meeting in Lowndes County, a rural community in central Alabama, where residents are pushing the county commission for answers about a $1.5 billion hyperscale data center on the way www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJae...
Lowndes County clashes over data centers in meeting
YouTube video by AL.com
youtube.com
NEW: The Lowndes County Commission voted to pursue zoning authority, but officials said this won’t affect the $1.5 billion data center plans. www.al.com/business/202...
Small Alabama county takes step toward zoning after data center backlash
The Lowndes County Commission voted to pursue zoning authority, but officials said this won’t affect the $1.5 billion development, Project Red Clay.
al.com
Our map of data centers in Alabama: open, under construction and proposed. Let us know if we missed one, and we'll add to the map www.datawrapper.de/_/nEvkf/
Alabama's data centers | Created with Datawrapper
More than a dozen data centers are currently operating, under construction or proposed across the state. Here's what we know about these developments.
datawrapper.de
Alabama’s data center industry is exploding, with investment growing past $63 billion. Here's what we know about the top players, environmental concerns and the politics of the industry here - with a map of every data center we know about so far www.al.com/business/202...
al.com
Investment in data centers has grown past $63 billion in Alabama. Our map shows you where they are and where they are planned.
NEW: QTS is funding the new scholarship program called "Bessemer Built." www.al.com/business/202...
Data center company commits $8 million to college scholarships for Bessemer students
QTS is funding the new scholarship program called "Bessemer Built."
al.com
NEW: The site is a Walmart Supercenter that has sat vacant for a decade. After a packed meeting last night with 300+ residents who attended and asked questions, here's what we know about the project www.al.com/business/202...
Patmos executives detail plans for $150 million Fairfield data center
The site is the Fairfield Walmart Supercenter, which has sat vacant for a decade.
al.com
NEW: Greater Birmingham Humane Society's CEO says the nonprofit is looking for a backup location for its new campus -- because of a data center. www.al.com/business/202...
Dogs in the fight: Birmingham humane society CEO says AI factory cut $18 million from fundraising
Greater Birmingham Humane Society CEO Allison Black Cornelius says the nonprofit is looking for a backup location for its new medical campus.
al.com
New from me and @hdenham.bsky.social -- As more local governments in Alabama rush to restrict new data centers, some Democrats are calling for a statewide ban – at least temporarily. Gift link -- www.al.com/politics/202...
2 Alabama candidates call for halt to new data centers: ‘Let’s put a pause on this’
So far, temporary bans on data centers in Alabama have been at the city level. But pressure is growing for action from the state.
al.com
NEW, with @ruthservensmith.bsky.social: What would a statewide moratorium on data centers look like for Alabama? These candidates are calling for it. www.al.com/politics/202...
2 Alabama candidates call for halt to new data centers: ‘Let’s put a pause on this’
So far, temporary bans on data centers in Alabama have been at the city level. But pressure is growing for action from the state.
al.com
NEW: The mayor said representatives from Patmos, the data center company proposing a site in Fairfield, will come to the town hall scheduled for Aug. 12 www.al.com/business/202...
‘I’m not hiding a thing’: Fairfield mayor reveals data center company, city passes moratorium
The city is holding a town hall with the data center company to share more information about the proposal with residents on Aug. 12.
al.com
NEW: Nebius Inc. says the $36 billion data center it's building in Birmingham’s Oxmoor Valley neighborhood won't get bigger. www.al.com/business/202...
Will the Nebius data center get bigger? Company says no, but local presence will grow
Nebius representatives said the company won't expand its site that's currently under construction in Birmingham's Oxmoor Valley.
al.com
NEW: Jack Daniel’s whiskey-making plant in Alabama will shut down by September, according to a WARN notice www.al.com/business/202...
Jack Daniel’s Alabama whiskey barrel-making plant is closing
The closure is scheduled for September.
al.com
NEW: NEW: Another data center is being proposed for Jefferson County, this time for a small city of 9,500 people just outside Birmingham. www.al.com/business/202...
A new data center is eyeing Jefferson County
A town hall for residents to learn more about the data center proposal is scheduled for July 28.
al.com
NEW: Read the full non-disclosure agreement between the city of Bessemer and the data center developer for Project Marvel here. www.al.com/business/202...
Bessemer releases secrecy agreement for massive data center after being threatened with lawsuit
Newly released records show 3 public officials in the small city signed an NDA with the developer of the controversial $14 billion data center.
al.com
NEW: Bessemer Mayor says city is "encouraged" by the commitment from QTS Data Centers. Whether the company will seek out other incentives is TBD www.al.com/business/202...
Data center company doesn’t want property tax breaks for Project Marvel, Bessemer mayor says
QTS Data Centers recently bought the 1,600 acres in rural Bessemer slated for a massive development.
al.com
NEW: What data center company will operate the massive development called Project Marvel planned for 1,600 acres in a rural pocket of Bessemer? Now, we know. www.al.com/business/202...
Data center company buys Project Marvel for $432M: Here’s what we know
The purchase by QTS Data Centers answers questions surrounding the controversial Bessemer development, which residents have protested since last year.
al.com
NEW: More residents are taking the city and Nebius Inc. to court, demanding a judge to immediately stop the construction of the data center planned for Oxmoor Valley www.al.com/business/202...
More Birmingham residents sue city, AI company over data center
The residents live less than 1,000 feet from the Nebius development that's now under construction in Oxmoor Corporate Park.
al.com
NEW: This marks the fourth known city in Alabama to approve a moratorium on data centers. www.al.com/news/2026/06...
Alabama city approves one-year pause on data centers – with penalties to enforce it
This marks the fourth known city in Alabama to approve a moratorium on data centers.
al.com