The Bessemer City Council voted 5–2 in a landmark decision on November 18, 2025, to rezone almost 700 acres for the massive data-center campus known as Project Marvel. The highly ambitious development represents one of the biggest private infrastructure investments that the city has ever seen.
The development, under the lead of Logistics Land Investment, LLC (affiliated with TPA Group), has designed 18 sprawling buildings across former farmland off Rock Mountain Lake Road. At full build-out, the campus could support up to 1.2 gigawatts of IT capacity, making it one of the most power-intensive data-center sites in the Southeastern United States, joining the list of mega data centers projects in the country.
Economic Impact
Project Marvel is not only a technical enterprise but also a significant economic play, with a projected capital expenditure of about $14.5 billion. Development assures about 1,000 construction jobs during its multi-year build stage and approximately 330 permanent high-paying roles once in operation.
Economic impact studies cited by city leaders estimate more than $4 billion in regional benefit over the next three decades, driven by job creation, ancillary business activity, and long-term tax revenue.
One of the biggest beneficiaries could be Bessemer City Schools, which may see close to $800 million in revenue over 30 years under preliminary tax-impact models. While detailed incentive packages have not yet been made public, city officials have confirmed that negotiations with the developer are ongoing.
Local economic modeling also projects significant fiscal benefits: over a multi-decade time horizon, Bessemer’s school system and municipal budget stand to gain from increased tax revenues tied to the data center’s operations.
Yet, Project Marvel has also been at the center of heated public debate. Community groups, environmental organizations, and civil-rights advocates have complained about a perceived lack of transparency in the approval process. Critics argue that major planning documents pertaining to environmental impact, water usage, and power demand were not adequately made available to the public at rezoning hearings.
Energy demand
Energy demand has emerged as a central issue: the campus’s huge power draw raises questions about backup generation, emissions, and strain on local utilities. Water use is another concern; opponents say that huge daily consumption could tax local water infrastructure.
Further complicating the project, the Alabama Department of Transportation has identified conflicts between the proposed data-center layout and long-range plans for highway development in the region.
Proponents insist this is a once-in-a-generation opportunity. They say the investment will solidify Bessemer’s place in the growing high-performance computing and cloud infrastructure economy, bringing jobs, ancillary business stimulation, and long-term tax contributions. Now that rezoning has been approved, detailed engineering, environmental permitting, and utility coordination are on the horizon.
As the development moves forward, it joins a broader trend of mega-scale data center campuses reshaping regional economies – and raising hard questions about how communities balance economic growth with environmental stewardship and social equity.
Bessemer Clears $14.5B Project Marvel Data Center — Factsheet
Total investment estimated at $14.5 billion
Located on approximately 700 acres in Bessemer, Alabama
Developer: Logistics Land Investment, LLC, affiliated with TPA Group
Rezoning approved by 5–2 council vote November 18, 2025
The plans include 18 hyperscale data-center buildings.
Designed for up to 1.2 GW computing capacity
Anticipated to create 1,000 construction jobs
Expected to create: 330 permanent jobs when operational
Primary concerns raised: environmental impacts, use of water, emissions, utility load, and transparency
Next steps: environmental permitting, engineering design, infrastructure alignment
