Rural America's Data Center Dilemma: What You Need to Know as These Facilities Sprout Up in Your Backyard.
The quiet countryside of Prince William County, Virginia, has become a hotbed for data centers. Once a rural paradise, the area is now home to 44 data centers operated by various tech companies, with 15 more under construction. The rapid growth of artificial intelligence has led to an unprecedented demand for computing power, fueling the development of massive data centers.
While some argue that these facilities bring jobs and tax revenue, experts warn of severe consequences, including rising utility costs, environmental degradation, and public health risks. "The way they are growing cannot continue," says Elena Schlossberg, founder of the Coalition to Protect Prince William County.
Data centers consume enormous amounts of water and electricity, driving up utility bills for residents. These facilities often negotiate lower energy rates through bulk power purchasing agreements (PPAs) with utility companies. For example, Meta signed two long-term PPAs for solar energy production in Illinois and Louisiana, leading to increased energy prices for residents by over 20% in Clark County, Illinois, and 39% in Laffite, Louisiana.
The strain on local resources is immense. Data centers frequently rely on diesel backup generators, which emit pollutants that pose significant risks to local health and the environment. In fact, a recent study found that the total public health burden of U.S. data centers will cost more than $20 billion per year by 2028, double that of U.S. coal-based steelmaking.
So, what can you do about it? Experts recommend fighting for policies that require data centers to switch to tier 4 diesel backup generators with state-of-the-art emission control technologies. They also emphasize urging policymakers to repeal tax breaks for data centers and demanding greater transparency around their water and energy use.
As Schlossberg says, "Your community is your firewall." By organizing town by town and city by city, we can mitigate the damage until this bubble bursts. The fate of rural America's countryside hangs in the balance as these massive facilities sprout up, threatening the very fabric of our communities.
The quiet countryside of Prince William County, Virginia, has become a hotbed for data centers. Once a rural paradise, the area is now home to 44 data centers operated by various tech companies, with 15 more under construction. The rapid growth of artificial intelligence has led to an unprecedented demand for computing power, fueling the development of massive data centers.
While some argue that these facilities bring jobs and tax revenue, experts warn of severe consequences, including rising utility costs, environmental degradation, and public health risks. "The way they are growing cannot continue," says Elena Schlossberg, founder of the Coalition to Protect Prince William County.
Data centers consume enormous amounts of water and electricity, driving up utility bills for residents. These facilities often negotiate lower energy rates through bulk power purchasing agreements (PPAs) with utility companies. For example, Meta signed two long-term PPAs for solar energy production in Illinois and Louisiana, leading to increased energy prices for residents by over 20% in Clark County, Illinois, and 39% in Laffite, Louisiana.
The strain on local resources is immense. Data centers frequently rely on diesel backup generators, which emit pollutants that pose significant risks to local health and the environment. In fact, a recent study found that the total public health burden of U.S. data centers will cost more than $20 billion per year by 2028, double that of U.S. coal-based steelmaking.
So, what can you do about it? Experts recommend fighting for policies that require data centers to switch to tier 4 diesel backup generators with state-of-the-art emission control technologies. They also emphasize urging policymakers to repeal tax breaks for data centers and demanding greater transparency around their water and energy use.
As Schlossberg says, "Your community is your firewall." By organizing town by town and city by city, we can mitigate the damage until this bubble bursts. The fate of rural America's countryside hangs in the balance as these massive facilities sprout up, threatening the very fabric of our communities.
it's like they're sucking up all our resources without thinking about the consequences 
44 data centers in one county already? that's crazy! 
we need to hold our policymakers accountable and make sure that data centers are held to the same standards as other industries. and yeah, those tier 4 diesel backup generators sound like a game-changer 
but seriously, can't we find a way to reduce our carbon footprint without sacrificing so many jobs? 
These things are basically sucking all the life outta those small towns. The water and energy consumption is wild - $20 billion public health burden by 2028?! That's insane! 
We need to do something about this ASAP, or these rural areas might just disappear.
! They're sucking up all the energy and water 
️ and tap water 
. It's not just about jobs and tax revenue 
and environment 
they're polluting our air and making us sick 
! We need to take action 
. Maybe we can organize a town hall meeting 
and talk about this stuff in person 
. Every community is like, our own firewall 
, so let's work together to protect ours 
.
. I mean, 44 in one county alone is just crazy! 
.
. It's like the companies are getting all this power and profit at our expense. Not fair 
.
. And maybe, just maybe, if we organize and demand change, we can slow down this data center bubble from popping 
i think what's really worrying is the public health risks from all those diesel generators emitting pollutants... $20 billion per year is a LOT of money 