Two weeks ago it was announced that a massive 760-acre data center will be coming to Pulaski County near Little Rock. The project is a $6 billion investment with $21 billion total through its entire development. The project is set to start construction in 2026 and will be completed and energized in 2027.
According to the company AVAIO, the AI ready data center, Leo, is projected to “…create more than 500 new full-time permanent operations jobs over the next five years as the campus is built out.” Adding new jobs to the state is a positive development, but for the size of the project the numbers look too low. Plus, I can’t help but wonder about the implications of this project.
Data centers are popping up around the country to accommodate the use of AI. One notable example is Elon Musk’s, xAI data center in Memphis. According to TIME, Memphis Light and Water “couldn’t provide nearly enough power for Musk’s needs.” To make up for this, Elon Musk brought gas turbines that released smog, sound pollution, and raised concerns about water usage.
AI uses enormous amounts of water and according to the Environmental and Energy Study Institute, “Large data centers can consume up to 5 million gallons per day…” If this is the amount of water per day, the amount of water per year would be 1.8 BILLION gallons. This amount of water will only increase with large, AI-ready data centers, so where is this water going to come from?
AVAIO Digital emphasizes sustainability on its website saying, “Sustainability is embedded in the core architecture…” The company website also says that the group has contracted with Entergy Arkansas for 150 MW of power. However, as the facility grows, the power Leo will need is estimated to be 1 GW, which, according to Carbon Collective, is enough to power about 876,000 homes for a year. Despite the company’s sustainability claims, I’m still concerned about the incredible amount of power and water it will need and what it means for Arkansans.
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders said this data center is the largest investment in the state’s history and “sets the Natural State up to become a technology powerhouse that can compete with any state in the nation.”
While this might be one of the largest investments in our state’s history, I wonder if it’s worth polluting our ecosystem. In 2023 Gov. Sanders introduced the Natural State Initiative designed to boost the outdoor economy. Since then, we’ve seen an increase in the outdoor economy, the 2024 Arkansas tourism economic impact report says, “Tourism and outdoor recreation are powerful driving forces in Arkansas’ economy.” In the same year 2.5% of all jobs in Arkansas were new outdoor jobs, which consisted of trail development, gear production and more.
This initiative is clearly working, and many have come to the Natural State because of its natural beauty, trails, and rivers. This AI data center may threaten not only our ecosystem but also our economy and livelihoods. As Arkansans, it’s our duty to protect and preserve our natural state and its beauty.
Aneyda Reynaga is managing editor of the NWACC Eagle View. She is studying journalism, and she loves reading and playing video games.
