Full Breakdown
Alabama Humane Society Sues Over $2 Billion AI Data Center Near Planned Campus
7/29/2026, 4:15:57 AM
Background and Context
The Greater Birmingham Humane Society, a nonprofit animal-welfare organization in Jefferson County, Alabama, is seeking to block construction of a $2 billion artificial-intelligence data center being built by the Amsterdam-based Nebius Group. The facility is slated to rise about 160 feet from the society’s future 67-acre campus, which will house a $67 million veterinary and animal-welfare complex. The nonprofit contends that the data center’s permits were approved in just four months—a timeline it says is far shorter than the 18-month review it endured for its own campus—raising concerns that the expedited process bypassed standard zoning rules.
Key Figures
- Allison Black Cornelius – President and CEO of the Greater Birmingham Humane Society.
- Nebius Group – Developer of the AI data center, headquartered in Amsterdam.
- City of Birmingham – Municipal authority that granted the data-center permits.
Official Statements & Responses
Nebius refuted the allegations, asserting that the project complied with all local regulations. The City of Birmingham declined to comment, citing the ongoing litigation.
Data & Statistics
- Project cost: $2 billion.
- Proximity to humane-society campus: approximately 160 feet.
- Permit review period for data center: four months versus 18 months for the society’s veterinary campus.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This case is not about whether data centers should exist,” — Allison Black Cornelius, President and CEO of the Greater Birmingham Humane Society
The lawsuit represents the nonprofit’s last administrative recourse after attending public hearings and submitting technical concerns, according to the complaint. The outcome will determine whether the AI data center can proceed as planned or be halted pending a judicial review of the approval process.
