Heat adds to strains on areas with data centers, raising the temperature on AI debates
Lowell, Massachusetts is experiencing increased strain from a local data center operated by the Markley Group, particularly during a recent heatwave, leading to concerns about air quality and power grid stability. Residents and local officials have voiced strong opposition, culminating in the City Council enacting a one-year moratorium on further data center expansion. The article highlights the local environmental and economic costs despite broader industry claims of moderate national growth.
Residents of Lowell, Massachusetts, particularly in the Sacred Heart neighborhood, are expressing significant concerns about a data center operated by the Markley Group, citing noise, diesel fumes from backup generators, and strain on local resources during heatwaves. Eileen Castle, an 82-year-old resident, highlighted the negative impact on her neighborhood, which the state has identified as facing higher environmental and health risks.
State Rep. Tara Hong, representing a predominantly low-income and working-class district, noted the data center's intrusive presence in the community. Experts like Shaolei Ren from the University of California, Riverside, explain that extreme heat exacerbates data center operational challenges, requiring intensive cooling methods that either consume vast electricity or water, and can lead to increased reliance on pollutant-emitting diesel generators.
The Markley Group's CEO, Jeff Markley, defended the facility, stating they've planted trees for air quality and only use generators in emergencies, not proactively. He also noted the Lowell facility uses a fraction of the city's daily water consumption for cooling, leveraging the Merrimack River. However, local sentiment has soured, leading the Lowell City Council to unanimously pass a one-year moratorium in February, blocking further data center expansion.
Jonathan Koomey, a data center researcher, emphasized that while national data center growth is moderate, the environmental and economic costs are intensely local. Tensions escalated at a recent city forum on data center zoning, where a 14-year-old girl was temporarily detained by police for speaking out of turn, underscoring the ongoing clash between residents and data center proponents, including local electricians who support the jobs the facility provides.