Little Rock Residents Rally Against Massive AI Data Centers

Community Opposition Grows

Little Rock residents concerned about AI data centers coming to their community gathered Saturday to discuss with their state representative. "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," one resident said. "We just don't want 'em." That statement sums up how most people seemed to feel at Little Rock's Hinton Resource Center, where the meeting took place.

State Rep. Denise Ennett joined Little Rock residents on Saturday for a discussion of AI data centers, particularly the two set to come to Pulaski County. Kathy Wells with the Coalition of Little Rock Neighborhoods organized the event. "These data centers that are coming to our neighborhood, to our community," Wells said, "We needed to find out more about that."

The damage done to both the environment and people when data centers come to town is unacceptable. Who's going to help us when we have no water, and air pollution from the data centers causes health issues amongst the people of LR?? We've seen what it's done to other cities, we can't let it happen to ours. These concerns have sparked a petition campaign and organized community resistance.

Billion-Dollar Development Plans

AVAIO Digital Partners announced a major new data center hub near Little Rock in Pulaski County, Arkansas – AVAIO Digital Leo - that will help accelerate the state's rapidly growing tech sector. Named after the constellation Leo -- the Lion -- symbolizing strength, power and leadership, the campus will host the compute, networking, data storage technologies and power infrastructure that underpin cloud computing and artificial intelligence applications. The campus will be built out in multiple phases with an initial $6 billion combined investment from AVAIO and its customers in infrastructure, power and tenant deployments over the course of the project.

Construction of the first phase of the project is expected to start in the first quarter of 2026 and will be complete and energized in June 2027. The Little Rock campus was chosen for its many advantages: Robust, low-latency interconnection options with multiple long-haul and regional fiber routes connecting to major data center markets including Dallas, Atlanta and Memphis as well as emerging edge markets across the Southeast and Midwest.

AVAIO is currently contracted with Entergy Arkansas for 150 MW of power, but the company anticipates power demand of up to 1 GW as the facility grows. The massive 760-acre facility represents one of Arkansas's largest economic development projects in history.

Environmental and Community Concerns

City leaders and economic groups have been calling this a win, while some residents explained that they were left out of the conversation. However, they're not raising questions about the environmental price tag. City leaders and economic groups have been calling this a win, while some residents explained that they were left out of the conversation. However, they're not raising questions about the environmental price tag.

When we're talking about Arkansas, we're talking about the Natural State. a lot of the things that attract people to Arkansas are those outdoor opportunities, being in nature, so the fact that these data centers bring so much climate stress. Opposition to data center construction is motivated by area concerns that vary by region, the report shows. Some common themes included higher utility bills, water consumption, noise, property value impacts and green space preservation.

Political and Economic Stakes

Arkansas has tremendous momentum coming into 2026, and we are excited that AVAIO is announcing a new multi-billion dollar project in Pulaski County to continue our story of growth. All of the elements needed for growth are in Arkansas, from an experienced workforce to low costs to ample power. AVAIO has recognized the advantages of doing business in Arkansas, investing an initial $6 billion as part of the project.

AVAIO's campus is a generational investment in the power and digital infrastructure Arkansas needs to compete globally. Their investment and the over 500 jobs it will create underscores my belief that the next wave of American innovation begins with resilient, scalable power. Yet this economic promise faces growing skepticism from residents who question whether the benefits justify the environmental costs.

As construction approaches, the tension between economic development and community concerns will likely intensify. The outcome of this debate could set precedent for how Arkansas balances technological advancement with environmental stewardship and community input in future major development projects.