The case against data centres is growing

The article highlights the escalating global demand for energy and water driven by the rapid expansion of AI-specific data centers. Investment banks like Goldman Sachs forecast a 50 percent increase in global power demand from data centers by 2027, with AI data centers being ten times more capital-intensive than traditional facilities. Mihir Nandkeolyar from Johnson Controls explains that AI workloads, particularly GPUs, consume significantly more power, leading to a surge in hyperscale data center construction, exemplified by Amazon's Project Rainier and Meta's Louisiana AI hub. This unchecked growth is reportedly consuming renewable energy gains and reviving fossil fuel sites, nearly tripling gas-fired power demand in the US in the past year. Elon Musk's xAI, for instance, received approval for methane gas turbines at its Mississippi data center despite local objections. The environmental impact also extends to water consumption, with large AI data centers potentially using millions of gallons daily. Public sentiment is shifting rapidly against data centers, with US public support plummeting. This opposition has led to the cancellation or rejection of at least 25 data center projects globally in 2025. Specific instances include Meta shelving a project in the Netherlands, a Chilean court suspending a Google data center, and an Arizona city council rejecting an Amazon proposal. Most notably in the US, the New Jersey City Council recently voted to cancel plans for an AI data center, opting instead to build a public park. Local organizer Ben Dziobek celebrated this decision, emphasizing the ongoing fight against data center expansion across New Jersey and worldwide.