The AI data center frenzy is one of the greatest environmental and social challenges of our generation.
While AI and data centers are funneling unimaginable wealth to Big Tech billionaires, they’re shoving all the risks and damages onto us. Here are some of the worst ways data centers leech off our communities and the planet for Big Tech’s profit.
Enormous energy footprints: A single hyper- scale data center can consume as much energy as 2 million U.S. households. A lifeline for fossil fuels: The thirst for energy is being met by keeping old coal-fired power plants running and by building new natural gas ones. Skyrocketing electricity costs: Increased energy demand can raise residential rates, which soared 31% from 2020 to 2025. Strained water resources: By 2028, AI data centers could use as much as 720 billion gallons of water each year just to cool servers — enough water to meet the indoor needs of 18.5 million households. A litany of other harms: Such as massive amounts of electronic waste, noise pollution, loss of farmland, political instability from deepfake videos, and child endangerment from AI chatbots.
It’s time to stop the construction of all new data centers nationwide until we have a regulatory framework that protects our communities and our environment. Food & Water Watch volunteer Joanna Gallo tabled at the Hudson River Music Festival in New York to gather petition signatures for New York’s data center moratorium bill, which passed the New York State legislature in June.
YES! I want to stop data centers that abuse our drinking water, pollute our air, and spike our energy bills.
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