Environmental concerns, impact assessments, and sustainability issues related to data center development. Data Center Signal is tracking 20,958 clips related to environmental across all 50 states.
A community meeting in Freeport examined potential water, noise, air pollution and electricity impacts from data center development. Stephenson County approved a six-month moratorium on data center development while officials work on local regulations, and Illinois advocates are seeking statewide protections through the proposed Power Act.
Vineland residents and environmental groups plan to sue DataOne over alleged violations of the federal Clean Air Act. New Jersey regulators previously fined the data center more than $1 million for operating 62 natural gas generators without the required permits.
Tech Fusions wants to expand its existing data center in Upper Burrell Township and power it with on-site natural gas generation. The township has enacted a six-month moratorium while developing an ordinance addressing setbacks, noise, lighting, pollution and water use, amid strong resident opposition and a lawsuit by Protect PT.
Residents across Imperial County are organizing against a proposed nearly 1-million-square-foot data center near the city of Imperial, citing environmental, water, energy and quality-of-life concerns. The project has been stalled after a judge found the county improperly allowed it to proceed without a state environmental review, while Imperial County and Calexico have adopted data center restrictions.
Buxton voters approved a retroactive 180-day moratorium on data centers to give town officials time to study the facilities and develop local regulations. Residents cited potential costs and environmental, water-use, traffic and land-use concerns, although no data center has been proposed in the town.
Google presented plans for a proposed $14 billion data center campus near Palo, Iowa, featuring six buildings, on-site water treatment and major power infrastructure. The project still requires annexation and zoning approval from Palo, while some residents and Linn County officials oppose the proposal or question its environmental, water, noise and regulatory impacts.
Shelby County commissioners advanced a proposed ordinance to regulate data centers in unincorporated areas, including water and electricity conservation requirements. The action comes as officials and residents debate a longer moratorium amid concerns about SpaceXAI’s Colossus I facility in South Memphis, which uses substantial power and water.
Concord’s Planning Board deferred a decision on Levitate Inc.’s proposed micro data center on Locke Road after residents raised concerns about its electricity use, grid impacts, noise, wetlands and cooling-fluid leaks. The board requested additional technical information and scheduled a continued hearing for Nov. 18.
At least 50 Indiana counties have enacted restrictions on data center development, including 33 moratoriums, 14 regulatory ordinances and four communities where data centers are prohibited. The restrictions reflect concerns about electricity and water consumption, environmental impacts, infrastructure strain and limited long-term employment benefits.
California cities and counties are proposing or adopting moratoriums and other restrictions on data center development despite new state transparency laws. Oakland and San Francisco have approved temporary pauses, while officials in Los Angeles County, Santa Clara and Alhambra are considering additional limits amid concerns about electricity use, water consumption and pollution.
The Palm Beach County Commission voted against spending $225,000 to hire a consulting firm to study the impacts of large-scale AI data centers, including noise, electricity use and water consumption. The decision follows the commission’s one-year moratorium on new large-scale data centers, while some commissioners support reconsidering the consultant proposal and others favor a resident task force.
The Benicia City Council voted to introduce an ordinance requiring public review, environmental analysis and conditional use permits for data center projects. The proposal would limit facilities to 20 megawatts in designated industrial districts, while Fairfield residents urged their council to consider a moratorium after a proposed 150-megawatt project appeared capable of advancing through existing rules without a public hearing.
The Working Majority is organizing a free “Data Center Detectives” scavenger hunt in Milwaukee’s Walker’s Point and Third Ward neighborhoods to educate residents about the environmental, economic and social effects of AI data centers. The event will also highlight ways communities can oppose proposed facilities across Wisconsin.
Voters in Buxton, Maine, approved a 180-day moratorium on data center development at a special meeting. The ban pauses applications and construction while local rules are reviewed, joining similar actions in other southern Maine communities.
The Clackamas County Board of Commissioners approved an immediate 120-day moratorium on data center development after public hearings. County officials said the pause will allow staff to study potential impacts on water resources, utility costs and existing farming and nursery industries, and to consider future regulations.
The San Jose City Council unanimously rejected an appeal seeking to block a special use permit for a data center operation at 300 Holger Way in North San Jose. The facility, leased by NVIDIA from Menlo Equities, can use up to 20 megawatts of power, while opponents argued it required additional environmental review because of potential noise, air pollution and infrastructure impacts.
Montana’s Department of Environmental Quality extended the public-comment period through Nov. 6 for a proposed well serving the Quantica Big Sky Campus data center near Broadview. The well could provide up to 200,000 gallons of water per day after construction, including potentially for server cooling.
South Carolina lawmakers John McCravy and Daniel Gibson are preparing legislation that would impose statewide requirements on new data centers, including limits on water use, electricity costs, noise and proximity to homes and other protected properties. Greenwood County has separately approved a one-year moratorium and zoning changes that effectively prohibit data centers while it studies the issue.
Several New Mexico counties have enacted temporary data center moratoriums while officials study impacts such as noise, water use, power demand and emissions. Sierra County Commissioner Sandy Jones is urging the commission to create an expert and community panel before its 18-month moratorium expires, while opposition continues to proposed projects in the region.
Loudoun County now requires developers applying for data centers and other high-energy facilities to provide more detailed information about electricity use, substations, proximity to homes and schools, noise, water resources and other environmental impacts. The requirements apply to current and future legislative land-use applications under a new Virginia law.