Stream Data Centers is pitching a 2 million square foot, likely AI-heavy campus at WNY STAMP (Western New York Science & Technology Advanced Manufacturing Park) in Alabama, and is leading with noise mitigation as its main community concession.
The site will use air-cooled rooftop chillers with premium, low-noise fans and acoustic screening, aiming to meet NY DEC’s 45 dBA night standard, but residents are pushing on low-frequency and DBC impacts that often get glossed over.
Backup diesel generators are sized only for “house and life safety” loads, not full 500 MW IT operation, which confirms this AI/data center will effectively go dark on extended grid loss rather than run on diesel.
The project highlights a typical AI infra tradeoff: massive power and land consumption for relatively few permanent jobs, with only ~120 direct employees planned across three buildings and tight parking that underscores low staffing density.
Infrastructure concerns are real-world: fire protection for 44-foot buildings, diesel storage and containment, 24/7 gated security, and siting choices driven by avoiding wetlands, not distance from nearby homes.
The tenant is undisclosed, but the combination of air-cooled design, huge power requirements, and modest staffing fits the current hyperscale AI buildout pattern.
The article is worth a read for anyone tracking how local planners and residents are starting to interrogate the operational realities of large AI data centers.
Source: Data center developer addresses noise concerns at Alabama planning meeting | The Batavian
