By John Dobberstein, Editor
COWETA — The company that plans to build a data center, dubbed “Project Atlas,” in Coweta made its first public statement about the project Monday, promising it would work in partnership with the community.
The Sentinel sent a long list of questions to Beale Infrastructure Monday requesting more detail about the project, including its projected water and utility use and what would be done to mitigate noise issues and protect the local ecosystem. The Sentinel also asked if the city of Coweta was asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement about the project.
While many of the questions were not answered directly, Beale did say it was in the “early phases” of exploring the data center development, which would be located on about 200 acres along 161st Street South between Highway72 and Highway 51B. The property was annexed by the city earlier this month.
An open house for the project is slated for 5-7 p.m. Tuesday at Coweta City Hall for residents to learn more about the project. The developer said information about project scope, timelines, local impact and benefits were to be shared at the meeting.
To this point, most residents have expressed opposition to the development due to concerns about high water and electricity use, noise pollution and other issues. Coweta resident Kathy Foster has started a Change.org petition drive to stop the data center from being built, with 203 signatures gathered so far.
Foster says she lives close to the building site and she’s “deeply worried” about the impact the development could have on the area’s already strained resources and quality of life.
“Despite promises of economic benefits, the reality is that data centers come with a high environmental cost. One of my biggest concerns is the water usage for cooling these massive infrastructures. Coweta already struggles with water supply issues, and further strain could severely affect our community’s future access to clean water,” Foster says.
“Moreover, data centers are notorious for their substantial electricity consumption. The increased energy requirement could lead to outages or price hikes, impacting the affordability of living in our town.
“The development of this data center is not in harmony with the character and sustainability of our town. Instead of pushing forward with the construction of this data center, I urge local leaders to consider other viable, eco-friendly projects that can bring growth without sacrificing our resources and quality of life.”
Beale Infrastructure is a portfolio company of asset management company Blue Owl. Beale partners with the leading technology companies to develop data centers and infrastructure, “that supports national economic growth.” The end user of the data center hasn’t been disclosed.
Beale said Monday it looked forward to partnering with Coweta and the project would create “high-quality jobs” both on site and in the trades, as well as support public schools.”
“We are committed to operating sustainably, especially regarding water and energy utilities. Our team of water and energy experts will work closely with local providers to assure not just adequate supply, but also proactively seeking ways to strengthen and reinforce local water and energy infrastructure which will be funded by Beale before breaking ground,” Beale said in its statement.
“As the long-term property owner, we share the community’s concerns around water conservation and infrastructure readiness. We will provide updates as more details become clear.”
City officials said last week the project is estimated to create 35 full-time job in the first phase, and that Beale would be bearing the brunt of infrastructure costs to make the project a reality.
Coweta City Manager Julie Casteen said Beale is looking at various options for water, and if the city supplies it the company will be required to pay for any infrastructure needed to serve their development. Beale is also working with Public Service Co. of Oklahoma (PSO) on electrical needs, but she noted the property is already served by a high-voltage transmission line. Any additional infrastructure needed will be funded by the developer.
The Coweta Industrial Development Authority sold 40 acres of property to Chicago-based Quartz Mountain Properties, a real estate developer, for $850,000 late last year. Quartz Mountain Properties is the same company that is developing the data center near Owasso.
County records also show a purchase agreement between property owners, Hopping Family Trust, and Quartz Mountain, which occurred in March.
Casteen said ownership of the properties will not transfer until all contingencies are met, including the ability to meet all infrastructure needs of the project. “If all needs are met, the developer will complete the purchase-sale agreements and will own all the property needed for the project,” she said.
Beale is the same company that proposed Project Clydesdale, a phased data center campus to be located near Owasso. The initial phase of that project, representing a $700 million investment, was approved by the Tulsa County Board of Commissioners on Sept. 30 after the county said the plan was in compliance with the county’s long-term land use plan. The project was approved with tax incentives included.
The Project Clydesdale campus will be located north of East 76th Street North, east of North Yale Avenue, south of East 86th Street North, and west of North Sheridan Road.
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