Data center protests go national as backlash grows
Protests against data centers were organized nationwide by HumansFirst in 125 locations, fueled by anger over the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure. Opponents express concerns about higher power bills, water diversion, pollution, and a lack of regulatory scrutiny. This nonpartisan movement is gaining significant traction and is predicted to be a major issue in future elections.
Opponents of data center expansion orchestrated coordinated protests in 125 locations across the United States on Saturday, marking the first national effort to channel public anger against the burgeoning AI infrastructure. The grassroots group HumansFirst, co-founded by Amy Kremer, a former Tea Party leader, organized the demonstrations, criticizing the "unaccountable" buildout of data centers and their perceived infringement on liberty.
Residents and local officials have been at the forefront of this opposition, with concerns escalating to state and national political levels. Protesters are highlighting issues such as the threat of higher power bills, the diversion of precious water resources, and environmental pollution, often exacerbated by a lack of transparency and regulatory oversight in project approvals. A June Reuters/Ipsos poll indicated that only a third of Americans approve of the current pace of data center construction, and just 14% would support a data center for AI projects in their community.
Despite the Data Center Coalition, an industry lobbying group, asserting a commitment to responsible community engagement, the public backlash is growing. Kremer describes the movement as nonpartisan, predicting that data centers will become a defining issue in upcoming midterm and presidential elections. Texas reported the most protests with 16, followed by Georgia with 11, and California, Florida, and Pennsylvania with seven each.
Activists like Eva Cardona in Texas and Ivan DelSol in California's Imperial County are organizing local protests, with DelSol citing concerns over a proposed Imperial County data center potentially using 260 million gallons of water annually from the Colorado River. While some organizers advocate for transparency and accountability from developers, they do not universally support policies such as moratoriums on data center approvals, exemplified by the State of New York's adopted measures.