Amazon Draws Climate Protest Over AI Data Centers
Climate protesters rallied outside Amazon's midtown New York offices over the company's plans to expand fossil-fueled AI data centers across the United States. Advocates warned that the facilities could increase fossil-fuel use, air pollution, electricity demand, noise and pressure on water resources.
Climate activists organized by Third Act protested outside Amazon's midtown offices in New York over the company's plans to expand its AI data center network nationwide. Amazon operates data centers in Virginia, Ohio and Oregon and is expanding in states including Texas, Pennsylvania and Indiana.
The protesters and environmental advocates criticized the facilities' expected electricity and natural-gas consumption, as well as potential impacts on air quality, water availability, electricity prices and community quality of life. Better Future Project Executive Director Alan Palm said data centers should be located where communities benefit and powered by renewable energy, while Holly Alpine, a former Microsoft worker, argued that Amazon's AI services could support continued fossil-fuel production.