Lee Hedgepeth
@leehedgepeth.bsky.social
Alabama reporter for Inside Climate News. Storyteller. Alabamian. I write Tread by Lee, a newsletter of Southern journalism. Sign up at www.TreadbyLee.com
A scoop from me for @insideclimatenews.org. Another day, another Alabama data center. The rep for this developer wouldn't even provide the company name. The mayor of Childersburg emphasized he didn't sign an NDA. He signed a "confidentiality agreement" instead. insideclimatenews.org/news/2301202...
This Small Alabama Town Was Part of the Manhattan Project. Now It May Host a Hyperscale Data Center. - Inside Climate News
CHILDERSBURG, Ala.—At Tuesday’s City Council meeting, there were few questions and fewer answers. Despite the lack of public detail about a proposed hyperscale data center in the town of 5,000 south ...
insideclimatenews.org
January 23, 2026 at 10:39 PM
A scoop from me for @insideclimatenews.org. Another day, another Alabama data center. The rep for this developer wouldn't even provide the company name. The mayor of Childersburg emphasized he didn't sign an NDA. He signed a "confidentiality agreement" instead. insideclimatenews.org/news/2301202...
Reposted by Lee Hedgepeth
Who gets to decide whether oil companies have to pay for their role in coastal destruction?
That was the question last week in front of the Supreme Court. Read the full dispatch, covered in our weekly newsletter, by @leehedgepeth.bsky.social:
link.motherjones.com/view/647e4ef...
That was the question last week in front of the Supreme Court. Read the full dispatch, covered in our weekly newsletter, by @leehedgepeth.bsky.social:
link.motherjones.com/view/647e4ef...
January 19, 2026 at 8:45 PM
Who gets to decide whether oil companies have to pay for their role in coastal destruction?
That was the question last week in front of the Supreme Court. Read the full dispatch, covered in our weekly newsletter, by @leehedgepeth.bsky.social:
link.motherjones.com/view/647e4ef...
That was the question last week in front of the Supreme Court. Read the full dispatch, covered in our weekly newsletter, by @leehedgepeth.bsky.social:
link.motherjones.com/view/647e4ef...
Have you ever read an NDA between a mayor and a data center developer? Now you can. New from me in @insideclimatenews.org. insideclimatenews.org/news/1701202...
An Alabama Mayor Signed an NDA With a Data Center Developer. Read It Here. - Inside Climate News
COLUMBIANA, Ala.—At first, no one knew about the non-disclosure agreement. Columbiana’s then-mayor, David Mitchell, had signed the secrecy agreement with DigiPowerX, a data center developer, without ...
insideclimatenews.org
January 17, 2026 at 3:35 PM
Have you ever read an NDA between a mayor and a data center developer? Now you can. New from me in @insideclimatenews.org. insideclimatenews.org/news/1701202...
Reposted by Lee Hedgepeth
Y'all can read the official statement in the article, but just know that my first reaction isn't fit to print. Unbelievable levels of arrogance for a city council to give residents the run-around for a year, then come right back and subject them to it again. 🤬
The developer of a $14.5 billion hyperscale data center in Alabama is requesting the rezoning of an additional 900 acres, more than doubling the expected footprint of the massive project. Full story from @insideclimatenews.org: insideclimatenews.org/news/1401202...
Bessemer Data Center Developer to Request Rezoning for Additional 900 Acres - Inside Climate News
The city’s attorney informed council members of the request on Tuesday, warning that there may be media scrutiny.
insideclimatenews.org
January 15, 2026 at 12:07 AM
Y'all can read the official statement in the article, but just know that my first reaction isn't fit to print. Unbelievable levels of arrogance for a city council to give residents the run-around for a year, then come right back and subject them to it again. 🤬
The developer of a $14.5 billion hyperscale data center in Alabama is requesting the rezoning of an additional 900 acres, more than doubling the expected footprint of the massive project. Full story from @insideclimatenews.org: insideclimatenews.org/news/1401202...
Bessemer Data Center Developer to Request Rezoning for Additional 900 Acres - Inside Climate News
The city’s attorney informed council members of the request on Tuesday, warning that there may be media scrutiny.
insideclimatenews.org
January 14, 2026 at 11:00 PM
The developer of a $14.5 billion hyperscale data center in Alabama is requesting the rezoning of an additional 900 acres, more than doubling the expected footprint of the massive project. Full story from @insideclimatenews.org: insideclimatenews.org/news/1401202...
Louisiana has lost more than 2,000 square miles of land in the last century, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Will oil companies have to pay up? New from
@insideclimatenews.org. insideclimatenews.org/news/1201202...
@insideclimatenews.org. insideclimatenews.org/news/1201202...
January 13, 2026 at 2:42 AM
Louisiana has lost more than 2,000 square miles of land in the last century, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Will oil companies have to pay up? New from
@insideclimatenews.org. insideclimatenews.org/news/1201202...
@insideclimatenews.org. insideclimatenews.org/news/1201202...
Reposted by Lee Hedgepeth
Via Lee Hedgepeth & Inside Climate News: Many climate scientists say that the Trump administration’s plan to leave the IPCC and withdraw from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change damages the scientific community and the United States’ reputation. https://ow.ly/HBW250XU4ze
January 10, 2026 at 1:05 PM
Via Lee Hedgepeth & Inside Climate News: Many climate scientists say that the Trump administration’s plan to leave the IPCC and withdraw from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change damages the scientific community and the United States’ reputation. https://ow.ly/HBW250XU4ze
I interviewed climate scientists for @insideclimatenews.org about Trump abandoning climate change agreements. I also spoke to Alabama's climate change-denying state climatologist, who said NY & CA are headed to "the Dark Ages" bc of commitments to renewables. insideclimatenews.org/news/0801202...
What Top Climate Scientists Think of Trump’s Treaty Withdrawals - Inside Climate News
Though the abandonment of international agreements is “a damn shame,” they say science will prevail.
insideclimatenews.org
January 9, 2026 at 12:47 AM
I interviewed climate scientists for @insideclimatenews.org about Trump abandoning climate change agreements. I also spoke to Alabama's climate change-denying state climatologist, who said NY & CA are headed to "the Dark Ages" bc of commitments to renewables. insideclimatenews.org/news/0801202...
Reposted by Lee Hedgepeth
Via Lee Hedgepeth: An Inside Climate News review of Alabama Power's emergency action plans shows that hundreds of square miles of land and waterways would be at risk of inundation in the event of a breach of the barriers holding back toxic waste at six sites in the state. https://ow.ly/kMWQ50XSGru
January 7, 2026 at 12:05 PM
Via Lee Hedgepeth: An Inside Climate News review of Alabama Power's emergency action plans shows that hundreds of square miles of land and waterways would be at risk of inundation in the event of a breach of the barriers holding back toxic waste at six sites in the state. https://ow.ly/kMWQ50XSGru
Cleo King said he prays about every vote he takes as a city councilor in Bessemer, Alabama. Here's what he said about his vote against a massive data center. New from
@insideclimatenews.org. Full story: insideclimatenews.org/news/1811202...
@insideclimatenews.org. Full story: insideclimatenews.org/news/1811202...
November 19, 2025 at 12:53 AM
Cleo King said he prays about every vote he takes as a city councilor in Bessemer, Alabama. Here's what he said about his vote against a massive data center. New from
@insideclimatenews.org. Full story: insideclimatenews.org/news/1811202...
@insideclimatenews.org. Full story: insideclimatenews.org/news/1811202...
Reposted by Lee Hedgepeth
Alabama will move heaven and earth to protect a football program’s win record.
But fans passing out in the stands?
Dozens of heat calls a game?
Concrete at 130°?
We get cooling stations and a “hydrate” reminder.
Game times and TV money stay untouched.
insideclimatenews.org/news/1611202...
But fans passing out in the stands?
Dozens of heat calls a game?
Concrete at 130°?
We get cooling stations and a “hydrate” reminder.
Game times and TV money stay untouched.
insideclimatenews.org/news/1611202...
Scorching Saturdays: The Rising Heat Threat Inside Football Stadiums - Inside Climate News
Excessive heat and more frequent medical incidents in Southern college football stadiums could be a warning sign for universities across the country.
insideclimatenews.org
November 17, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Alabama will move heaven and earth to protect a football program’s win record.
But fans passing out in the stands?
Dozens of heat calls a game?
Concrete at 130°?
We get cooling stations and a “hydrate” reminder.
Game times and TV money stay untouched.
insideclimatenews.org/news/1611202...
But fans passing out in the stands?
Dozens of heat calls a game?
Concrete at 130°?
We get cooling stations and a “hydrate” reminder.
Game times and TV money stay untouched.
insideclimatenews.org/news/1611202...
An @insideclimatenews.org analysis found temps in football stadiums can spike for hours, from 10 to 16 degrees higher than outside...Auburn averaged over 100 emergency calls per game in 2024, the majority being heat-related. insideclimatenews.org/news/1611202...
November 16, 2025 at 10:14 PM
An @insideclimatenews.org analysis found temps in football stadiums can spike for hours, from 10 to 16 degrees higher than outside...Auburn averaged over 100 emergency calls per game in 2024, the majority being heat-related. insideclimatenews.org/news/1611202...
Temperatures inside southern football stadiums can be 10 to 16 degrees higher than outside the facilities, leaving spectators at elevated risk of heat injury. A new story on scorching Saturdays from @insideclimatenews.org. insideclimatenews.org/news/1611202...
November 16, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Temperatures inside southern football stadiums can be 10 to 16 degrees higher than outside the facilities, leaving spectators at elevated risk of heat injury. A new story on scorching Saturdays from @insideclimatenews.org. insideclimatenews.org/news/1611202...
Reposted by Lee Hedgepeth
Via Lee Hedgepeth, Dennis Pillion & Inside Climate News: With the Bessemer City Council scheduled to vote Tuesday on a “hyperscale” data center, challenges from an environmental group and the Alabama Department of Transportation present potential obstacles for the project. https://ow.ly/YQAk50XrPy6
November 16, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Via Lee Hedgepeth, Dennis Pillion & Inside Climate News: With the Bessemer City Council scheduled to vote Tuesday on a “hyperscale” data center, challenges from an environmental group and the Alabama Department of Transportation present potential obstacles for the project. https://ow.ly/YQAk50XrPy6
With the Bessemer City Council scheduled to vote Tuesday on approval of a data center the size of 18 Walmart Supercenters, a fish and a "zombie" highway could be significant hurdles for the development. insideclimatenews.org/news/1311202...
November 14, 2025 at 1:05 AM
With the Bessemer City Council scheduled to vote Tuesday on approval of a data center the size of 18 Walmart Supercenters, a fish and a "zombie" highway could be significant hurdles for the development. insideclimatenews.org/news/1311202...
Reposted by Lee Hedgepeth
Via Dennis Pillion and Lee Hedgepeth Inside Climate News examined the 2024 federal filings of 100 of the largest electric utilities in the country. None reported higher total residential electric bills, on average, than Alabama Power. And a big reason is lax regulation. https://ow.ly/w57i50XlWmS
November 4, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Via Dennis Pillion and Lee Hedgepeth Inside Climate News examined the 2024 federal filings of 100 of the largest electric utilities in the country. None reported higher total residential electric bills, on average, than Alabama Power. And a big reason is lax regulation. https://ow.ly/w57i50XlWmS
An @insideclimatenews.org analysis shows that Alabama Power customers pay the highest residential electricity bills in the United States. insideclimatenews.org/news/0311202...
November 4, 2025 at 4:01 PM
An @insideclimatenews.org analysis shows that Alabama Power customers pay the highest residential electricity bills in the United States. insideclimatenews.org/news/0311202...
Reposted by Lee Hedgepeth
This deep look at the consumer unfriendly actions of Alabama Power is very much worth your time. Great work from my colleagues @dennispillion.bsky.social and @leehedgepeth.bsky.social:
insideclimatenews.org/news/0311202...
insideclimatenews.org/news/0311202...
How Alabama Power Kept Bills Up and Opposition Out to Become One of the Most Powerful Utilities in the Country - Inside Climate News
In one of the poorest states in America, the local utility earns massive profits producing dirty energy with almost no pushback from state regulators.
insideclimatenews.org
November 3, 2025 at 4:41 PM
This deep look at the consumer unfriendly actions of Alabama Power is very much worth your time. Great work from my colleagues @dennispillion.bsky.social and @leehedgepeth.bsky.social:
insideclimatenews.org/news/0311202...
insideclimatenews.org/news/0311202...
Today, Inside Climate News published our first piece in an investigative series on Alabama Power called "Wired for Profit." Take a moment to read and share. insideclimatenews.org/news/0311202...
November 3, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Today, Inside Climate News published our first piece in an investigative series on Alabama Power called "Wired for Profit." Take a moment to read and share. insideclimatenews.org/news/0311202...
Reposted by Lee Hedgepeth
Via Lee Hedgepeth: In an interview with Inside Climate News, Joe Pizarchik, a former top federal mining regulator, spoke at length about the current regulatory environment around coal mining and, more specifically, about a recent announcement in Alabama. https://ow.ly/xrnc50Xl4Gc
November 2, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Via Lee Hedgepeth: In an interview with Inside Climate News, Joe Pizarchik, a former top federal mining regulator, spoke at length about the current regulatory environment around coal mining and, more specifically, about a recent announcement in Alabama. https://ow.ly/xrnc50Xl4Gc
Alabama has suspended methane monitoring above mines forced by the feds after a fatal home explosion. Its excuse? Monitoring for the gas may be too costly for coal companies. Joe Pizarchik, the nation's former top coal regulator, told me that's not true. insideclimatenews.org/news/2910202...
October 29, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Alabama has suspended methane monitoring above mines forced by the feds after a fatal home explosion. Its excuse? Monitoring for the gas may be too costly for coal companies. Joe Pizarchik, the nation's former top coal regulator, told me that's not true. insideclimatenews.org/news/2910202...
Reposted by Lee Hedgepeth
Possibly 16 minutes of torture. This man claimed innocence but this country cannot.
Just over an hour after 3 Supreme Court justices warned that Alabamian Anthony Boyd would suffer psychological torture, he was subjected to the longest nitrogen gas execution in US history, gasping for air more than 225 times. Read my eyewitness account: www.treadbylee.com/p/after-just...
After justices warned of prolonged suffocation, Alabama subjected Anthony Boyd to the longest nitrogen execution in U.S. history.
Boyd was the chairman of Project Hope, a death row-led nonprofit. Its members are left reeling in the wake of their leader's suffocation execution.
www.treadbylee.com
October 24, 2025 at 11:29 PM
Possibly 16 minutes of torture. This man claimed innocence but this country cannot.
Reposted by Lee Hedgepeth
Oh my god
Just over an hour after 3 Supreme Court justices warned that Alabamian Anthony Boyd would suffer psychological torture, he was subjected to the longest nitrogen gas execution in US history, gasping for air more than 225 times. Read my eyewitness account: www.treadbylee.com/p/after-just...
After justices warned of prolonged suffocation, Alabama subjected Anthony Boyd to the longest nitrogen execution in U.S. history.
Boyd was the chairman of Project Hope, a death row-led nonprofit. Its members are left reeling in the wake of their leader's suffocation execution.
www.treadbylee.com
October 24, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Oh my god
Reposted by Lee Hedgepeth
This is, hands down, one of the worst witness accounts in a long line of horrifying accounts of cruel and unusual capital punishment in this god forsaken country
Just over an hour after 3 Supreme Court justices warned that Alabamian Anthony Boyd would suffer psychological torture, he was subjected to the longest nitrogen gas execution in US history, gasping for air more than 225 times. Read my eyewitness account: www.treadbylee.com/p/after-just...
After justices warned of prolonged suffocation, Alabama subjected Anthony Boyd to the longest nitrogen execution in U.S. history.
Boyd was the chairman of Project Hope, a death row-led nonprofit. Its members are left reeling in the wake of their leader's suffocation execution.
www.treadbylee.com
October 24, 2025 at 7:27 PM
This is, hands down, one of the worst witness accounts in a long line of horrifying accounts of cruel and unusual capital punishment in this god forsaken country
Reposted by Lee Hedgepeth
A US Supreme Court majority signs off on allowing the state of Alabama to experiment with torture and death.
I'd say there aren't words to describe it but there are via @leehedgepeth.bsky.social
www.treadbylee.com/p/after-just...
I'd say there aren't words to describe it but there are via @leehedgepeth.bsky.social
www.treadbylee.com/p/after-just...
After justices warned of prolonged suffocation, Alabama subjected Anthony Boyd to the longest nitrogen execution in U.S. history.
Boyd was the chairman of Project Hope, a death row-led nonprofit. Its members are left reeling in the wake of their leader's suffocation execution.
www.treadbylee.com
October 24, 2025 at 7:38 PM
A US Supreme Court majority signs off on allowing the state of Alabama to experiment with torture and death.
I'd say there aren't words to describe it but there are via @leehedgepeth.bsky.social
www.treadbylee.com/p/after-just...
I'd say there aren't words to describe it but there are via @leehedgepeth.bsky.social
www.treadbylee.com/p/after-just...