Colocation Data Center Proposed in Fairfield, Near Birmingham, Alabama

A new colocation data center development is being proposed in Fairfield, Alabama, a suburb located just west of Birmingham. The announcement comes as the broader Birmingham area continues to attract data center investment, though this particular project appears to be smaller in scale compared to the massive hyperscale campuses often associated with the industry.

Officials in Fairfield recently confirmed the proposal, but full details regarding the facility’s size, capacity, or timeline have not yet been disclosed. The city has scheduled an open town hall meeting later this month to share more information with residents and gather community feedback. The project is still in its early stages, and the lack of specific technical or financial data suggests that developers are proceeding cautiously.

In an open letter to residents, Fairfield Mayor Herman Carnes, Jr. sought to clarify the nature of the proposed facility, drawing a clear distinction between this project and the large-scale hyperscale campuses that often spark public concern over energy and water usage. “The project being considered for Fairfield is a colocation data center, not a hyperscale data center campus. That distinction matters,” Carnes wrote. He added that while the proposal should not receive less scrutiny, it should be “evaluated based on its own facts, not assumptions from unrelated projects elsewhere.”

The Birmingham area is home to several established data center operators, including DC Blox, Nebius, US Data Centers, and QTS, though none currently have facilities within Fairfield city limits. The proposed colocation center would likely serve local enterprises seeking managed space and connectivity, rather than the cloud giants that typically drive hyperscale development. This positions the project as a more targeted, community-focused investment. For Fairfield, a city in western Jefferson County, the project could bring new economic activity and jobs, though the exact scope of those benefits remains unclear pending further announcements.