Why it matters
The strategic read
Adds another Blackstone-backed QTS megacampus at true AI-infrastructure scale. The scarce inputs are already bundled in the public trail: a 1,600-acre assembled site, a 1.2 GW power requirement, municipal-water agreement, closed-loop cooling claims, and a named operator with hyperscale execution across Virginia, Georgia, Texas, Ohio, Italy and Iowa. The project is politically and environmentally contested, which makes it a useful live case study for how gigawatt-class data-center campuses convert land, utility load, water commitments and community opposition into deployable infrastructure.
Source-supported terms
What was disclosed
- 01
QTS lists Bessemer, Alabama as an in-development data-center campus and says it is developing a facility in the Bessemer area to support digital infrastructure used by businesses and organizations across the country.
- 02
QTS says it partners with local utilities to pay 100% of its own energy use so that project-related costs are not pushed onto ratepayers.
- 03
QTS says its Bessemer data centers will use a closed-loop cooling system that does not consume water for cooling once operational.
- 04
WBRC reported on July 2, 2026 that a QTS Data Centers spokesperson said the company is pursuing plans for a proposed data-center campus on the Project Marvel site in Bessemer.
- 05
AL.com reported on July 1, 2026, updated July 2, that QTS Data Centers bought the Project Marvel property for nearly $432M from the developer backing the project.
- 06
AL.com reported the project covers roughly 1,600 acres in a rural pocket of Bessemer off Rock Mountain Lake Road / Freeman Avenue and related roads.
- 07
AL.com reported that Project Marvel is planned as a $14.5B hyperscale data-center campus and has been described by city leaders as one of the largest private investments in Alabama history.
- 08
AL.com reported the plan includes 18 buildings spanning 4.5M square feet.
- 09
AL.com reported that Alabama Power will supply the electricity needs at 1,200 MW of power.
- 10
AL.com reported that the project will use up to 130,000 gallons of municipal water per day under a new agreement with the Warrior River Water Authority.
- 11
Land records cited by AL.com show the June 25 transaction moved 677 acres on Rock Mountain Lake Road for $181.6M and 932 acres on Freeman Avenue, Polara Lane and Old Lawsontown Road for $250.1M, landing with RSTL LLC, a Delaware company sharing an Overland Park, Kansas address with QTS.
- 12
The project has faced local resident opposition, environmental concerns and litigation; AL.com reported the homeowner lawsuit was voluntarily dismissed the week before the July 1 story.
Disclosure boundary
What is known—and what is not
QTS primary Bessemer project page confirms the in-development campus, community engagement posture, closed-loop cooling claim and ratepayer-protection claim. WBRC confirms QTS is pursuing plans on the Project Marvel site. AL.com, citing QTS confirmation and county land records, supplies the land transaction, acreage, $432M purchase price, $14.5B planned investment, 18-building / 4.5M-square-foot scope, 1,200 MW Alabama Power requirement, municipal-water agreement and local controversy. Public materials do not disclose the full land purchase agreements, Alabama Power service agreement, power price, interconnection upgrades, final permits, data-center customer or tenant identity, phase-by-phase construction schedule, EPC awards, financing stack, cooling-equipment vendors, water-use exhibits, tax-incentive terms, lease terms, customer remedies, cancellation rights or whether the full $14.5B / 1.2 GW plan has reached final investment decision.