Environmental Advocates Demand Immediate Halt to New Data Center Projects Amid Rising Energy Concerns
In response to the escalating energy demands of data centers, over 230 environmental organizations, including Food & Water Watch, Friends of the Earth, and Greenpeace, have collectively urged Congress to impose a nationwide moratorium on the approval and construction of new data facilities. Their primary concerns center around the substantial increases in electricity and water consumption associated with these centers.
The coalition’s public letter highlights the rapid and largely unregulated expansion of data centers, driven by the surging demand for artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency operations. They argue that this growth is disrupting communities nationwide and poses significant threats to economic stability, environmental health, climate resilience, and water security.
Recent studies have established a correlation between the establishment of new data centers and rising regional energy prices. A survey commissioned by solar installer Sunrun revealed that 80% of consumers are apprehensive about the potential negative impact of data centers on their utility bills. This concern is underscored by a 13% increase in electricity prices this year, marking the most significant annual rise in the past decade.
The states projected to experience the most pronounced effects include Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, and New Jersey, all of which are slated for substantial increases in data center capacity. Projections indicate that energy demand for data centers will nearly triple over the next decade, escalating from 40 gigawatts currently to 106 gigawatts by 2035, with much of this expansion occurring in rural areas.
The environmental groups also express concern over the broader societal impacts of artificial intelligence, including job displacement, social instability, and economic concentration.
Recent developments have intensified these concerns. Protesters recently gathered outside the headquarters of utility company DTE in Detroit, opposing the company’s request for approval from the Michigan Public Service Commission to supply electricity for a 1.4-gigawatt data center proposed by OpenAI and Oracle. The demonstrators voiced fears that the data center would lead to higher electricity bills, excessive freshwater usage, and increased traffic congestion.
Similarly, in Wisconsin, three individuals were arrested during a common council meeting discussing a proposed 902-megawatt data center, which is part of OpenAI and Oracle’s Stargate project. The arrests underscore the growing public resistance to large-scale data center developments and their perceived environmental and social ramifications.
