I know it's more mixed and complex than this, but i think a big opposition is not to the data centers themselves but to their locations. Too often it feels like the centers are exploiting local resources and community infrastructure rather than paying their share or locating themselves in places that are less likely to cause problems to home owners.
The whole process feels indifferent or even adversarial at times.
You’d think they’d have the green data center thing down already, but that ain’t going to happen when politicians still boast “clean coal” and moan on about wind farms. It takes real leadership and economic force to transition towards a green economy, therefore you’re going to get pushback while heading toward a brick wall.
A good start would be to limit new data center construction to zero-emissions DC-only compute. Slap a ZEDCO badge on it and you’ll get that buy-in you’re looking for.
I think the difference is that many data centers are being built as cheaply as possible, with no regards for noise prevention, their effect on the energy grid, etc. Data centers have been located near people for decades, but most of them are completely inconspicuous because they are designed to mitigate their effect on their surroundings.
Those consume nowhere near as much electricity as data centers.
Of course electricity wouldn't be such a problem if US government chose to invest in cheap, sustainable energy sources and upgrade its grid. China is building solar and nuclear like crazy, and that gives them a massive advantage here.
Hopefully in future elections Americans choose a candidate and party that isn't bought by the fossil fuel lobby.
industrial greenhouses make noise? I live near Forest Hill, LA, which is where tons of nurseries set up, dozens and dozens. they all have greenhouses. No noise. I bet their electrical connections don't raise prices of local residents, either.
So is it the water? I don't know where i sit on the water argument. Equinix near LAX had chillers, i guess, but really it's just massive HVAC. chillers don't work everywhere (my understanding). I don't remember plumes of humidity coming off the facility, either. I also don't remember being able to hear it from outside the building, or even in the foyer before you went through the mancatchers.
Do you know the old anecdote about the russian and american scientists talking about freedom? The one where the american explains that he is free to go and protest against the war in Vietnam and where the russian dismisses him that he is also free to protest against the war in Vietnam.
> While Americans Oppose AI Data Centers
I know it's more mixed and complex than this, but i think a big opposition is not to the data centers themselves but to their locations. Too often it feels like the centers are exploiting local resources and community infrastructure rather than paying their share or locating themselves in places that are less likely to cause problems to home owners.
The whole process feels indifferent or even adversarial at times.
You’d think they’d have the green data center thing down already, but that ain’t going to happen when politicians still boast “clean coal” and moan on about wind farms. It takes real leadership and economic force to transition towards a green economy, therefore you’re going to get pushback while heading toward a brick wall.
A good start would be to limit new data center construction to zero-emissions DC-only compute. Slap a ZEDCO badge on it and you’ll get that buy-in you’re looking for.
I think the difference is that many data centers are being built as cheaply as possible, with no regards for noise prevention, their effect on the energy grid, etc. Data centers have been located near people for decades, but most of them are completely inconspicuous because they are designed to mitigate their effect on their surroundings.
Not to mention raising local temperatures by as much as 16°F
https://edition.cnn.com/2026/03/30/climate/data-centers-are-...
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Cold storage warehouses, industrial greenhouses, indoor ag, are all similar but who protests those.
I think there's something social going on.
Those consume nowhere near as much electricity as data centers.
Of course electricity wouldn't be such a problem if US government chose to invest in cheap, sustainable energy sources and upgrade its grid. China is building solar and nuclear like crazy, and that gives them a massive advantage here.
Hopefully in future elections Americans choose a candidate and party that isn't bought by the fossil fuel lobby.
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industrial greenhouses make noise? I live near Forest Hill, LA, which is where tons of nurseries set up, dozens and dozens. they all have greenhouses. No noise. I bet their electrical connections don't raise prices of local residents, either.
So is it the water? I don't know where i sit on the water argument. Equinix near LAX had chillers, i guess, but really it's just massive HVAC. chillers don't work everywhere (my understanding). I don't remember plumes of humidity coming off the facility, either. I also don't remember being able to hear it from outside the building, or even in the foyer before you went through the mancatchers.
1 reply →
Do you know the old anecdote about the russian and american scientists talking about freedom? The one where the american explains that he is free to go and protest against the war in Vietnam and where the russian dismisses him that he is also free to protest against the war in Vietnam.
correct