Report highlights rural worries over data center development
A new report from the University of Illinois indicates that rural Americans are highly concerned about the impact of data center development. Key worries include increased electricity costs, the permanent loss of farmland for data center sites, and excessive water usage. Researchers advised communities to conduct thorough due diligence on power, water, zoning, and tax implications.
A recent report by the University of Illinois reveals significant concerns among rural Americans regarding the proliferation of data centers. Mark White, a clinical associate professor in the department of ag and consumer economics, highlighted that the primary worry identified by survey respondents was the potential for increased electricity costs.
Rural residents also expressed apprehension about the irreversible conversion of agricultural land for data center construction. White noted that once built, these facilities are difficult to remove and the land cannot be easily restored to its original agricultural use after their operational lifespan.
Conducted online in February with approximately 1,000 U.S. adults representative of the country's demographics, the survey also found strong concerns about water overuse by data centers. White urged communities to perform comprehensive due diligence, asking critical questions about power generation and usage, water consumption, zoning and land use, and the tax implications of such developments.
The findings concluded that rural populations are more apprehensive about the potential impacts of data centers than their urban and suburban counterparts.