Data centres, which are essential for the functioning of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, are facing increasing opposition in the US and UK due to environmental and community concerns. These facilities, such as a Google site under construction in Hertfordshire, are crucial for processing vast amounts of data but have raised alarms regarding their impact on local electricity rates and water usage.
In the US, Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders has called for a moratorium on new data centre construction, expressing concerns about the rapid pace of technology and its effects on communities. Polling by Gallup in May indicated that 71% of Americans oppose having a data centre in their area, a sentiment that has grown over the past two years. In contrast, opposition to data centres is also evident in the UK, with local residents in areas like Brick Lane voicing their preference for social housing and local businesses over new data centres.
The UK ranks third in the world for the number of data centres, following the US and China. Local protests in the US have been driven by rising energy and water costs attributed to data centre operations. Some politicians, including newly elected governors in New Jersey and Virginia, have responded to these concerns by implementing legislation aimed at regulating energy tariffs for data centres.
In Texas, a Republican Senate candidate, Ken Paxton, has criticized data centres and proposed holding operators accountable for any negative impacts on children’s safety. This marks a shift in the traditionally pro-business stance of Texas regarding data centres.
In the UK, the Labour government has designated data centres as Critical National Infrastructure, emphasizing their importance for public services and economic competitiveness. However, local opposition remains strong, as seen in Slough, where residents have petitioned against further development.
Concerns extend to environmental impacts, with campaigners highlighting the heat generated by data centres and questioning their water usage. The UK government is expected to release a National Policy Statement to outline regulations for data centres, balancing economic growth with environmental considerations.
As the demand for data centres continues to rise, the debate over their implications for local communities and the environment is likely to intensify, especially as the UK aims to expand its data centre capacity significantly by 2030.