Data center development draws more criticism
Public criticism is growing over data center developments, particularly regarding transparency from officials and environmental impacts. Examples from Utah and Georgia highlight concerns about massive electricity demands and significant water usage, with one Georgia data center reportedly using millions of gallons without being billed. Residents in multiple states are petitioning for moratoriums until more information on resource use is provided.
Across the United States, data center developments are facing increasing public criticism regarding transparency and resource consumption. A prominent example is the Stratos artificial intelligence data center project in Utah's Box Elder County, which was approved by the county commission despite significant public outcry. This project is projected to demand 9 gigawatts of power, exceeding the electricity usage of the entire state of Utah, and is backed by developer Kevin O'Leary. Residents expressed concerns about environmental impacts, including water and air quality, but local representatives stated they lacked control over these issues.
Further highlighting public concerns, an instance in Georgia revealed that a QTS data center utilized nearly 30 million gallons of water but was not billed for it, according to a May 2025 letter from the Fayette County water system. QTS attributed the high consumption to construction needs and claimed its closed-loop cooling system minimized water use, a claim met with skepticism by residents, especially amidst severe drought conditions in the state.
Similar issues are emerging in states like Wyoming, where over 70 data center projects are underway. Residents in Wyoming and other states are actively circulating petitions advocating for moratoriums on new data center construction. The public is demanding that county and state officials provide assurances that these projects will not lead to increased electricity costs or deplete local water supplies.