Boom de data centers deve influenciar eleição de meio de mandato nos EUA
Residents in Loudoun County, Virginia, say noise and air pollution from nearby data centers are harming their daily lives and potentially contributing to health problems. Opposition to data center expansion is becoming an issue in U.S. congressional elections, with candidates from both parties criticizing further development near homes.
Residents in Loudoun County, Virginia, describe persistent noise from a nearby data center, including disruptions during the night. A Harvard University study cited in the report estimated that pollution from the facility could result in up to $99 million annually in health-related damages, including hospitalizations, respiratory and cardiovascular disease, and premature deaths.
The report places the local complaints within a broader U.S. data center boom, noting that construction began on roughly $80 billion in new facilities during the first half of the year, including a planned project in Texas described as potentially the world’s largest. Citing Gallup polling, the report says seven in 10 Americans oppose having a data center near their homes. The issue has entered congressional campaign debates, while Loudoun resident Lindsey said residents are not seeking to shut facilities down but want greater separation from homes and a way to coexist with the industry.