(The Center Square) – Caddo Parish officials want the Resilient Technology Park data center developer to honor an informal pledge they believe was made to local leaders last fall – requests for additional improvements or upgrades would be considered.
The Caddo Parish Commission voted unanimously at Monday’s worksession to advance two resolutions for consideration during Thursday’s regular meeting. Resilient Park is in Ken Epperson’s commission district.
They request the data center to adopt rainwater harvesting measures and advanced water discharge filtration systems, and to produce an environmental impact study for residents of Dawson Road in northwest Shreveport, according to the resolutions.
Commissioner John-Paul Young reminded the governing board that project representatives had previously said additional requests can be made.
It’s unclear who the commission is counseling, as litigation has stalled an official announcement from the companies involved with Shreveport’s data center campus at Resilient Park.
Neither Amazon Web Services nor STACK Infrastructure, the project developer, have publicly announced plans to build the center after Caddo Parish Judge Ramon Lafitte upheld a special-use permit approving construction.
Lafitte dismissed litigation brought by three plaintiffs asking for a judicial review of the City Council’s decision to approve the development after the city’s planning commission had initially blocked it. The special-use permit was needed for it to operate.
The victory gave STACK Infrastructure the green light to announce construction of a third data center campus for AWS. Two $6 billion tech hubs are currently under development in rural Bossier and Caddo parishes.
However, the Sierra Club Delta Chapter, supporting the plaintiffs, announced last month that a challenge will be filed in the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeal.
There is no announcement from either company “until litigation is completed,” according to a statement from North Louisiana Economic Development.
Monday’s deliberation around the two resolutions provided an opportunity for critics to reenergize their opposition, with several residents speaking against the centers during the public comment period.
The first resolution, sponsored by Epperson, asks the operators to examine how construction might impact the flooding situation and traffic congestion. They’re concerned with how clearing land and vegetation may alter drainage for nearby residents.
The other resolution, sponsored by Young, aims to limit the facility’s environmental impact on the communities that host them by adding technology to reduce water consumption and contaminates that can degrade drinking water quality and harm aquatic life. It points to the parish’s growing number of facilities but references Shreveport’s water concerns.
“I am for economic development,” Commissioner John Atkins said. “Impact studies are part of responsible development.”
Commissioner Chris Kracman asked for an amendment to add the Stateline Data Center campus – in rural Caddo Parish – to Epperson’s resolution, which was granted.
