AI-Themed Festival Renaming Triggers Backlash in Irondale, Alabama

Earlier this month, Irondale Mayor James Stewart announced on Facebook that the town’s long-standing “I Love Irondale Day” would be temporarily renamed “AI Love Irondale Day.” The change was intended as a word-play, but many commenters slammed the title, calling AI “absolutely garbage for the environment” and labeling the event an “AI slop” festival. Residents expressed fears that the rename hinted at a forthcoming data-center project, a concern echoed across the South where similar facilities are expanding.

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Data centers that power AI models consume large amounts of electricity and water, prompting worries about higher utility bills and environmental impact. A Gallup poll from March reported that 70 % of Americans oppose data centers being built near their homes. Nearby Bessemer, Alabama, is preparing a multibillion-dollar data-center development, and local activists have been contesting that project, heightening sensitivity in Irondale.

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Conversely, Amelia Fielder, who has lived in Irondale for 26 years, said she would welcome a data-center neighbor for the jobs it could bring and noted, “Everything else is AI—why not?” Dewar Gaines, owner of a local dog-treat factory, admitted he relies on AI for his business while fearing the noise of a nearby data center, remarking, “So I guess I’m a hypocrite in that regard.”

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Mayor Stewart later posted a video stating the renaming was “just a play on words” and that the festival would revert to its original name. Councilmember Aaron Sims said Irondale lacks the land needed for a large hyperscale facility and that the council is drafting rules in case a smaller developer shows interest. Sims added, “I think the mayor just realized that, you know, AI is here. Tech is here. We want our citizens educated on the future. This is the little taste today.”

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The episode illustrates how AI-related branding can ignite community anxiety about data-center expansion, even when no concrete project is planned. It also shows a split among residents: some view AI and associated infrastructure as economic opportunity, while others see them as environmental and quality-of-life threats. The town’s decision to restore the festival’s original name reflects an effort to balance curiosity about emerging technology with local concerns.

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