Military data centers are sparking opposition, but local leaders may be powerless to stop them
The Pentagon's plans to build military data centers near US bases, including sites in Alaska, are facing significant opposition from local residents and leaders due to concerns about noise and strain on the electricity grid. While the Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly has called for a moratorium, local officials acknowledge limited power over federal military land. U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski also expressed concerns about Alaska's energy capacity to support such projects.
The Pentagon is considering building at least a dozen military data centers on or near bases across the United States to expand its artificial intelligence capabilities, which require immense computing power. In Alaska, potential sites are being evaluated in Anchorage, Healy, and Fairbanks, with the Pentagon offering to lease approximately 4,700 acres of government land to private companies, though no projects have been awarded yet.
This proposal has sparked significant concern among residents and local leaders in communities like Salcha, Alaska, near Eielson Air Force Base outside Fairbanks. Residents, including Sarah Hollister, are worried about the potential for constant noise from these facilities and the impact on their quality of life. Opponents also highlight the strain data centers would place on Alaska's already stretched energy system, particularly in Fairbanks, which experiences some of the nation's highest utility costs. Republican U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski has voiced her opposition to bringing data centers to Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson (JBER) in Anchorage or other interior installations until the state's energy infrastructure can adequately support them.
Fairbanks North Star Borough Mayor Grier Hopkins acknowledged the community's strong economic and cultural ties to the military, making it difficult to push back against Pentagon initiatives. While the Borough Assembly is advocating for a data center moratorium, it lacks the authority to enforce such a ban on federal military land. Hopkins expressed hope that the Air Force would consider community concerns, despite their limited direct control.
This local pushback is part of a broader national trend, with at least 100 communities across the nation having adopted moratoria on data center construction. The Air Force, while declining interviews, indicated it is required to promote efficient use of its property and will mandate contractors to mitigate community impacts.