Data center opponents stage 142 protests across 42 US states

Opponents of data center expansion held 142 protests across 42 US states on Saturday, marking a significant nationwide effort coordinated by HumansFirst. Amy Kremer, co-founder of HumansFirst and a former Tea Party leader, drew parallels between the burgeoning anti-data center movement and the 2009 Tea Party, emphasizing its nonpartisan appeal. Protesters voiced concerns over the rapid, "unaccountable" buildout of AI infrastructure, citing issues like excessive water consumption and infringement on liberty.

Specific demonstrations highlighted local grievances, such as a protest in Fredericksburg, Virginia, and a rally in Atlanta, Georgia, where activists challenged the approval of hyperscale AI data centers. In California's Imperial County, a protest against a proposed data center's 260 million gallons per year water demand from the Colorado River underscored environmental worries, especially in water-stressed regions. Texas led the nation with 18 protest events, followed by Georgia with 11.

While HumansFirst praised the turnout, local organizers noted lower than expected attendance in some areas. Despite this, a Reuters/Ipsos poll indicated only a third of Americans approve of the current pace of data center construction, and even fewer would support a data center in their own community for AI projects by tech giants like Meta, Alphabet, Amazon, Microsoft, and xAI. Industry representatives, such as Josh Levi of the Data Center Coalition, affirmed their commitment to working with policymakers to mitigate negative impacts. Protesters are advocating for greater transparency, resource protection, environmental health, community benefits, and developer accountability. Kremer predicts data centers will become a defining issue in upcoming elections.