Senate Majority Leader Steve Livingston (R-Scottsboro) joined Mobile radio FM Talk 106.5's "The Jeff Poor Show" on Wednesday to discuss an array of topics, including supplying power for a Jackson County data center owned by Google and the facility's positive impact on the surrounding area.
During the broadcast, Poor asked Livingston about his past comments, suggesting a local nuclear power plant could provide energy for any future data centers to help offset potential costs for residents.
"We might be having a different discussion if they had gone forward with the [nuclear power plant]. We didn't," responded Livingston. "We still have a data center there. They're looking at making some changes, some expansions. We need to make sure that we've got power for them, but we also need to make sure it's not on the backs of Alabama families, that the data centers pay for it well."
Livingston said the data center has been of great benefit to the community it calls home.
"They have been really good corporate friends to our community. They helped our school system and helped our communities out. They've been very good folks to us," Livingston continued. "There are a couple hundred jobs there. Some of them are security jobs. They don't pay as well as others. Might not be direct jobs, but there's good paying jobs, and they have been very active in our community, and will continue to do so we are. We're hoping for an expansion. So obviously, you know, we're going to have some more power, and again, and I state again. "
Added Livingston, "We don't need to put that on the backs of Alabama's families. We need to make sure they'll help fund that in some capacity."
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email [email protected].
Don't miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every day.
