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Little Rock Residents Oppose New AI Data Centers
Community members raise concerns about transparency, noise, and environmental impact of planned facilities.
Mar. 16, 2026 at 5:00pm
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Residents of Little Rock, Arkansas gathered at a community meeting to voice their opposition to the construction of new AI data centers in their neighborhoods. The centers, one planned near Wrightsville and another at the Port of Little Rock, have raised concerns among locals about a lack of transparency, as well as potential issues with noise, utility costs, and environmental impact. State Representative Denise Ennett, who represents the affected districts, attended the meeting and shared many of the same concerns expressed by her constituents.
Why it matters
The development of AI data centers is a growing trend across the country, but their construction often faces pushback from local communities who worry about the centers' effects on their neighborhoods. This meeting highlights the tensions that can arise when tech companies seek to build large-scale facilities without sufficient community input and transparency.
The details
The meeting at Little Rock's Hinton Resource Center was organized by Kathy Wells of the Coalition of Little Rock Neighborhoods. Residents expressed a general sentiment of not wanting the data centers in their community, with one stating, "We just don't want 'em." The planned facilities include a $6 billion AVAIO Digital center near Wrightsville and another at the Port of Little Rock that sources say is being developed by Google. Representative Denise Ennett, who represents the affected districts, said she shares the community's concerns about the environmental impact, tax incentives, and other issues, and plans to meet with AVAIO on March 31st to discuss these matters.
- The community meeting took place on Saturday.
- Representative Ennett has a meeting scheduled with AVAIO on March 31st.
The players
Kathy Wells
Organizer of the Coalition of Little Rock Neighborhoods and the community meeting.
Denise Ennett
Arkansas state representative whose district includes the planned data center locations.
AVAIO Digital
The company planning a $6 billion data center facility near Wrightsville.
The tech company reportedly behind the data center planned for the Port of Little Rock.
What they’re saying
“I don't think a lot of us here, or a lot of residents where these AI data centers are being built, we don't want transparency. We just don't want 'em.”
— Unnamed Resident
“These data centers that are coming to our neighborhood, to our community, we needed to find out more about that.”
— Kathy Wells, Organizer, Coalition of Little Rock Neighborhoods
“With the public input, I think they can be beneficial, but without public input and transparency, that's where the rub is for me.”
— Denise Ennett, Arkansas State Representative
What’s next
Representative Ennett has a meeting scheduled with AVAIO Digital on March 31st to discuss the community's concerns about the planned data center.
The takeaway
This meeting highlights the growing tensions between tech companies seeking to build large-scale facilities and local communities who want more transparency and input on the potential impacts. As AI data centers become more common, finding ways to address community concerns will be crucial for their successful development.
