The dark side of the data center boom

Resistance to data center expansion is growing across the United States, particularly in the Midwestern and Southern rural areas where two-thirds of new facilities are being built. Communities are experiencing significant negative impacts, such as high noise and air pollution, depletion of water systems, and increased energy costs for consumers. As an example, residents of Southaven, Mississippi, are reportedly regretting the existence of a new data center due to these issues. The article argues that the problems extend beyond local environmental and economic concerns. Data centers are deeply intertwined with the exploitation of resources, including fossil fuels and minerals like silicon, gallium, lithium, and cobalt, often obtained through violence and inhumane mining practices. These resources are critical for powering data centers, especially "emergency generators" that run consistently for AI applications, and are linked to U.S. regime change efforts in resource-rich regions. Furthermore, the expansion of data centers facilitates the use of generative AI by the military, with the Pentagon securing massive deals with companies like Palantir and OpenAI. The article cites the alleged use of Anthropic's Claude in a bombing incident in Minab, Iran, questioning the ethical implications for communities hosting data centers. While data centers may offer a small number of jobs, the author, Melissa Garriga, communications and media analysis manager for CODEPINK, contends that these benefits do not outweigh the societal and planetary costs. She urges state officials to prioritize jobs in renewable energy and ecosystem protection over an industry she describes as terrorizing communities and contributing to global instability.