By Brian Lyman | Editor
“A huge thing that a lot of folks are concerned about is what I call quality of life issues. Whether it be noise, traffic, light pollution, or just changing the general characteristics of a community. They want to hear cicadas over the hum of generators. They want to see the night sky, not the lights of a data center or some other extractive industry running business 24/7.” - Justinn Overton, executive director, Coosa Riverkeeper
A plan for a data center is displayed before Bessemer City Council members during a hearing on Nov. 18, 2025 in Bessemer, Alabama. (Andi Rice for Alabama Reflector)
ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
By Anna Barrett
Data centers are not new in Alabama, but the hyperscale projects proposed around many communities has led to protests and moratoriums. The issue has gotten into state politics as well, with Republican gubernatorial nominee Tommy Tuberville sometimes aggressively embracing them and Democratic gubernatorial nominee Doug Jones calling for a moratorium. But a law approved by the Legislature this spring may limit what the state can do about them.
U.S. Sen. and Republican gubernatorial nominee Tommy Tuberville speaking at the Alabama Republican Party's Summer Dinner on July 31, 2026, at the Renaissance Hotel in Montgomery, Alabama. (Anna Barrett/Alabama Reflector)
GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
By Anna Barrett
The Alabama Republican Executive Committee approved a resolution backing closed primaries Saturday but rejected a proposal to disqualify the candidacies of those who bring lawsuits against GOP organizations. The proposal, stemming from ongoing litigation against Republican gubernatorial nominee Tommy Tuberville, was seen by some members as an attempt to punish dissent. Tuberville addressed the party on Friday.
Democratic gubernatorial nominee Doug Jones speaks in Birmingham, Alabama on July 27, 2026.(Andi Rice for Alabama Reflector)
COMMENTARY
By Brian Lyman
From a moratorium on data centers to a call for a citizens’ ballot initiative, the policy agenda unveiled by Democratic gubernatorial nominee Doug Jones last week stood out. In my column this week, I write that the proposals — some of which would be hard to achieve — manage to draw a clear line between the Jones and Tommy Tuberville campaigns. And they also suggest an effort to break the state’s old political patterns.
ICYMI
Trump defends settlement for ‘great American Patriots’ of Jan. 6, attacks GOP senators | Ashley Murray, DC Bureau
Wildfire smoke is now the primary pollutant affecting pregnancy, study shows | Kelcie Moseley-Morris, Stateline
State lawmakers of both parties say it’s time to rethink America’s fragile childcare system | Kevin Hardy, Stateline
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