Big Data Centers Are Booming, But Secret Deals Draw Local Opposition

Across the United States, data center projects are facing opposition from local residents who are concerned about the high demand for electricity and water, noise pollution, and the lack of job creation. Critics argue that data centers do not generate the same number of jobs as other land uses. In Texas, residents are questioning the development of data centers in the context of rapid rural industrialization. In Pennsylvania, ad hoc groups claim that data centers are tapping into nearby natural gas fields, increasing fracking and straining water supplies. In Indiana, Minnesota, Kansas, Nebraska, and other states, residents say the large scale and proximity of data centers degrade their neighborhoods and devalue properties. A common complaint is that state and local governments offer tax incentives to data center projects, often shielding them from public scrutiny through nondisclosure agreements. Residents feel that they are not informed about the projects and their voices are not valued. A survey found that 93% of respondents agreed that data centers are vital to the US, but only 35% want one in their town. Local opposition is rooted in the feeling that people were not informed and were ignored during the planning process. Despite the backlash, the data center industry claims that it wants to be a good neighbor and follows laws and regulations.