Big Tech and green groups discuss the future of data centres in the US
Major technology companies and environmental groups have formed the Responsible Data Center Collaborative to develop national guidelines for data center development in the United States. The discussions will address energy use, water consumption, infrastructure, community involvement, transparency and economic impacts amid growing public opposition to data center expansion.
Google, Meta, Microsoft, Oracle, Amazon, Nvidia and Anthropic are participating in the Responsible Data Center Collaborative alongside environmental groups including the Natural Resources Defense Council, World Wildlife Fund and Sierra Club. Supported by the Rockefeller Foundation and Invest in Our Future, the group began meeting in September and plans to continue discussions through February 2027.
The proposed guidelines would cover electricity demand, grid infrastructure, water resources, community engagement, economic benefits and corporate accountability. The talks come as data center growth driven by artificial intelligence raises concerns about power costs, noise, water use and pollution, while communities in the United States and elsewhere increasingly protest or seek restrictions on new projects.