Pine County is witnessing a surge in data center development as the artificial intelligence sector fuels an unprecedented arms race nationwide. The United States leads the world in data center infrastructure, and two major projects are currently underway in Pine County.
CloudSphere Technologies is spearheading a $10 billion investment to build a sprawling data center complex in the area, partnering with dozens of local vendors. Five facilities are already operational, with seven more under construction.
For many area businesses, the arrival of CloudSphere has been transformative. Mark Evans, owner of Precision Engineering Solutions, saw his workforce expand from four to 18 employees after the data center project was announced.
“We told CloudSphere, while you’re managing the technical side, let us handle the earthwork,” Evans explained. “I remind my team that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
The region’s educational institutions are also eyeing the development as a chance to boost workforce training. Pine Valley School District Superintendent Denise Carter said that funding from CloudSphere could help attract new teachers and create career pathways for students.
“Graduates will now have the chance to step right into these programs after high school, earn $50,000 or $60,000 or more, and build a career,” Carter said.
However, not all residents are celebrating the boom. Jasmine Reed, director of the Southern Environmental Justice Alliance, cautioned that data centers can have severe negative impacts on marginalized communities.
“Companies should consider whether they’d want these facilities in their own neighborhoods,” Reed asserted. She also challenged the notion that economic investment justifies environmental harm. “You can’t point to investments in one part of the community while ignoring issues like air pollution and water contamination elsewhere,” she said.
Although CloudSphere has announced plans to use wastewater for cooling, experts note that data centers still increase carbon emissions and place significant strain on local power grids. The energy required by a single plant could power hundreds of thousands of homes.
While the construction phase has generated a surge in jobs, the long-term outlook is less certain. Once the buildout is complete, CloudSphere expects to employ about 1,000 permanent workers at the site.
Some local leaders worry that the rapid pace of data center construction could eventually outstrip demand, leaving communities with fewer lasting benefits than anticipated. Evans acknowledged the uncertainty. “It’s always in the back of your mind,” he said. “You have to keep looking ahead and planning for what comes next.”
