A rare look inside the largest data center in Massachusetts nicknamed "the dungeon" by neighbors

The Markley data center in Lowell, Massachusetts, which residents have nicknamed "the dungeon" or "Death Star" due to its imposing size and constant industrial hum, is at the center of growing community opposition. The facility, built in 2015 by Markley, is the largest data center in the state, storing data for over a hundred customers including hospitals and universities.

Neighbors like Jake Fortes complain about the constant noise from industrial air conditioners and exhaust fumes from emergency generators. While data centers are crucial for the digital age, their significant energy and water consumption, estimated at up to five million gallons daily for some large facilities, are making them increasingly unpopular across the country, with polls showing more opposition to data centers than nuclear power plants.

In response to these concerns and in the midst of Markley's plans for expansion, the City of Lowell recently passed a one-year moratorium on new data center construction and expansion. Markley Corporate VP Adam Burnham offered a rare tour, disputing neighbor's claims of excessive noise and emphasizing that their Lowell facility uses between 60,000 and 120,000 gallons of water daily, a fraction of larger AI-focused data centers. Senator Elizabeth Warren is advocating for more transparency regarding data center resource usage.

Despite the moratorium impacting Markley's expansion plans, an IBEW union representative, Lou Antonellis, expressed hope for future construction jobs, noting that a big project could employ 80-100 workers. The article highlights the tension between technological advancement, local community concerns, and environmental impact.