Childersburg Industrial Park data center
Also called: WHP Development, Western Hospitality Childersburg
A developer wants to build a $6 billion, 500-megawatt data center on 486 acres in Childersburg's industrial park, a former wartime munitions site. The mayor signed a confidentiality agreement and the developer has not said its full name.
Where things stand: City has an agreement in principle to sell the land; developer is still studying the site.
🕒 Latest update (Jan 2026): City Council discussed a land sale agreement worth about $17 million with the developer.
What we know
- 📍 WhereChildersburg Industrial Park, on the former Alabama Ordnance Works (Manhattan Project) site, Childersburg, Talladega County
- 🏢 CompanyWHP Development (possibly Western Hospitality Partners)
- 🌳 Size486 acres
- ⚡ Power it needs500 megawatts (about as much as 400,000 homes)
- ❄️ Coolingglycol-based cooling (developer said)
- 💵 Cost$6 billion
- 👷 Jobs promised220
- 🤐 Secret deal (NDA)Yes. The mayor signed a confidentiality agreement with the developer.
❓ Still unanswered
Nobody has answered these in public yet. Can you help find out?
- Who is the developer and who would use the data center? 🙋 I'll find out
- How much water would it use? 🙋 I'll find out
- Has the land sale been finalized? 🙋 I'll find out
What happened so far
- Jan 2026City Council discussed a land sale agreement worth about $17 million with the developer.
Local votes and rules
🗺️ Zoning change
Council unanimously changed its zoning rules so data centers are allowed as a main use in a 'planned unit development' zone, for the industrial park site. The mayor said the city had signed a purchase agreement with the developer for 486 acres (about $17 million) and a confidentiality agreement.
An aerial photo of the area.
Where this comes from
- This Small Alabama Town Was Part of the Manhattan Project. Now It May Host a Hyperscale Data Center · Inside Climate News · Jan 23, 2026
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