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X-WR-CALNAME:Stop Bad Data Centers
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://datacenters.halttheharm.net
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Stop Bad Data Centers
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260318T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260318T130000
DTSTAMP:20260513T233128
CREATED:20260121T115855Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260305T030622Z
UID:10000009-1773835200-1773838800@datacenters.halttheharm.net
SUMMARY:Working Session on Gateway 5: Financial Structuring & Credit Approvals
DESCRIPTION:Halt the Harm Network participants are invited to a special working session on a specific gateway (or phase) of data center development.  \n\n\n\nData centers cost billions to build\, requiring complex financing from banks\, institutional investors\, and insurance companies. Before committing money\, these financial institutions assess project risks—including regulatory problems\, community opposition\, and what’s called “social license to operate.” Environmental\, Social\, and Governance (ESG) considerations have become part of many investment decisions\, creating new pressure points that didn’t exist a decade ago. \n\n\n\nRead More about Financial Structuring & Credit Approvals\nThis matters because documented community opposition directly affects investment risk. Credit rating agencies evaluate project risk; insurance companies assess liability; ESG-focused investors scrutinize environmental and social conflicts. When communities generate sustained opposition\, file permit challenges\, document environmental concerns\, and attract negative media coverage\, they’re creating quantifiable risk factors that affect financing costs. Projects have been delayed\, restructured\, or abandoned when financial partners became concerned about controversy. \n\n\n\nCommunities can identify and target lead financial partners\, file detailed investor engagement letters citing ESG conflicts\, present social license risk to credit rating agencies\, and generate financial media coverage of project controversies. Coordinating with shareholder activists who can raise concerns at investor annual meetings has also proven effective. Developers need to close financing before controversy escalates—which means early\, organized opposition can make their deals much harder to complete. \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\nAbout these Working Sessions \n\n\n\nThese sessions are part of a network project addressing the harms of bad data centers.   \n\n\n\nThe format is a facilitated Zoom call to share on-the-ground experience\, tools\, resources\, and information. The outcome is a collection of refined tools and knowledge the whole network can use. As a participant you can access the shared document for notes and resources.
URL:https://datacenters.halttheharm.net/event/working-session-on-gateway-5-financial-structuring-credit-approvals/
CATEGORIES:Deep Dives
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260304T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260304T130000
DTSTAMP:20260513T233128
CREATED:20251222T221157Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260305T030622Z
UID:10000005-1772625600-1772629200@datacenters.halttheharm.net
SUMMARY:Working Session on Gateway 4: Tax Incentive Negotiations
DESCRIPTION:Halt the Harm Network participants are invited to a special working session on Tax Incentive Negotiations to stop bad data centers. \n\n\n\nData center developers routinely ask for massive tax breaks from local and state governments including property tax abatements lasting 10-20 years\, sales tax exemptions\, reduced utility rates\, and infrastructure subsidies. \n\n\n\nThey promise jobs and economic growth\, but data centers are highly automated and often create far fewer jobs than traditional industries while placing substantial burdens on local infrastructure. \n\n\n\nRead More about Tax Incentives\nTax incentive negotiations require public hearings and votes by elected officials\, creating high-visibility political moments where organized opposition can directly influence outcomes. \n\n\n\nUnlike regulatory processes\, these decisions are made by local representatives who answer directly to voters. The economic claims developers make are often vulnerable to scrutiny: independent fiscal analyses frequently reveal inflated job projections\, understated infrastructure costs\, and better alternative uses of public money. \n\n\n\nThis is where communities can reframe the debate from “jobs vs. no jobs” to “who really benefits from subsidizing this development?” Communities can mobilize turnout at public hearings\, commission independent fiscal impact studies\, expose the gap between promised and actual jobs\, and build coalitions between fiscal conservatives concerned about corporate welfare and progressives focused on community needs. Several tax packages have been reduced or denied when organized opposition effectively challenged developer claims. The key is demanding strong clawback provisions (recapturing incentives if promises aren’t kept) and enforceable community benefit agreements with binding terms. \n\n\n\nMore details\, stakeholders\, and community allies explored further in our working session. RSVP today to be involved. \n\n\n\n\n\nAbout these Working Sessions \n\n\n\nThese sessions are part of a network project addressing the harms of bad data centers.   \n\n\n\nThe format is a facilitated Zoom call to share on-the-ground experience\, tools\, resources\, and information. The outcome is a collection of refined tools and knowledge the whole network can use. As a participant you can access the shared document for notes and resources.
URL:https://datacenters.halttheharm.net/event/gateway-4-working-session-tax-incentive-negotiations/
CATEGORIES:Deep Dives
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260226T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260226T150000
DTSTAMP:20260513T233128
CREATED:20260216T201140Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260305T030623Z
UID:10000012-1772114400-1772118000@datacenters.halttheharm.net
SUMMARY:The State of AI Data Center Policy in the United States w/ Tim Bernard
DESCRIPTION:Join Halt the Harm Network for the official launch of the HHN Data Center Policy Tracker\, a comprehensive legislative tracking tool covering data center bills across the United States. \n\n\n\nIn this session\, you will meet Tim Bernard\, the independent policy analyst leading this initiative. Tim will walk through the current state of data center policy in the U.S.\, present the methodology behind tracking and categorizing legislation\, and demonstrate how to use the Policy Tracker on our website to find bills that impact your community\, identify concerns\, and take informed action. \n\n\n\nWhat to expect\n\n\n\n\nAn overview of the national legislative landscape on data centers\n\n\n\nA live walk-through of the Policy Tracker and how to use it\n\n\n\nTime for questions and conversation\n\n\n\n\nAbout Tim Bernard\n\n\n\nTim Bernard is an independent tech policy analyst. He has consulted broadly and written extensively for Tech Policy Press\, with articles cited in The Atlantic\, Bloomberg’s Tech Daily and a Supreme Court amicus brief. Tim also published a white paper for Stanford University’s Program on Platform Regulation. He has particular expertise with reviewing legislation related to online safety and data centers. Tim lives in New York City\, where he studied at Cornell Tech and is currently adjunct teaching at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA). \n\n\n\nThis event is free and open to anyone working to understand and respond to the rapid expansion of data centers in their communities. Whether you are new to this issue or have been tracking it closely\, you will leave with a practical tool and the connections to put it to use.
URL:https://datacenters.halttheharm.net/event/the-state-of-ai-data-center-policy-in-the-united-states-w-tim-bernard/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://datacenters.halttheharm.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/State-of-AI-Data-Center-Policy2.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260218T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260218T130000
DTSTAMP:20260513T233128
CREATED:20251222T221019Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260305T030623Z
UID:10000004-1771416000-1771419600@datacenters.halttheharm.net
SUMMARY:Working Session on Gateway 3: Water Rights & Environmental Permits
DESCRIPTION:Halt the Harm Network participants are invited to a special working session on using Water Rights & Environmental Permits to stop bad data centers. \n\n\n\nData centers generate massive heat and need millions of gallons of water annually for cooling. Training AI models can consume hundreds of thousands of liters of water\, and even everyday AI queries add up. These facilities also need permits for air emissions (from backup diesel generators)\, stormwater management\, and impacts on wetlands. Some federal and state environmental laws require review processes that developers can’t skip. \n\n\n\nRead more about Water Rights & Environmental Permits\nThis gateway matters because developers want quick approvals with minimal conditions and limited public disclosure. Communities can file detailed scoping comments demanding thorough review\, present expert testimony from hydrologists and scientists\, challenge chemical risks from cooling systems\, and organize environmental justice coalitions to document cumulative impacts. When EPA regional offices\, state environmental agencies\, and water authorities see organized community opposition backed by scientific evidence\, they’re normally forced to take a harder look. \n\n\n\n\n\nAbout these Working Sessions \n\n\n\nThese sessions are part of a network project addressing the harms of bad data centers.   \n\n\n\nThe format is a facilitated Zoom call to share on-the-ground experience\, tools\, resources\, and information. The outcome is a collection of refined tools and knowledge the whole network can use. As a participant you can access the shared document for notes and resources.
URL:https://datacenters.halttheharm.net/event/gateway-3-working-session-water-rights-environmental-permits/
CATEGORIES:Deep Dives
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260217T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260217T150000
DTSTAMP:20260513T233128
CREATED:20260213T195853Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260305T030623Z
UID:10000011-1771336800-1771340400@datacenters.halttheharm.net
SUMMARY:Q&A on Data Center Legislation with Tim Bernard
DESCRIPTION:Join us for an introduction to the new HHN Data Center Policy Tracker\, a comprehensive legislative tracking database covering data center bills across the United States. \n\n\n\nYou’ll meet Tim Bernard\, the policy expert leading this initiative\, will explain his methodology for tracking and categorizing legislation\, demonstrate early examples of the tracker\, and discuss how this tool will empower community advocates to stay informed and take action on data center policy. \n\n\n\nThe session will also feature discussion about the challenges of tracking legislation across different state systems\, set realistic expectations about update frequency and limitations\, and gather community feedback to help shape the final product before the official launch on February 20th. \n\n\n\nThis is a pre-launch event to give you a chance to bring questions\, suggestions\, and meet others working on the issues. \n\n\n\n\n\nAbout Tim Bernard\n\n\n\nTim Bernard is an independent tech policy analyst. He has consulted broadly\, written extensively for Tech Policy Press\, with articles cited in The Atlantic\, Bloomberg’s Tech Daily and a Supreme Court amicus brief\, and also published a white paper for Stanford University’s Program on Platform regulation. Tim has particular expertise with reviewing legislation related to online safety and data centers. He lives in New York City\, where he studied at Cornell Tech and is currently adjunct teaching at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA).
URL:https://datacenters.halttheharm.net/event/qa-on-data-center-legislation-with-tim-bernard/
CATEGORIES:Interviews
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://datacenters.halttheharm.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/CleanShot-2026-02-13-at-14.54.44@2x.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260204T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260204T120000
DTSTAMP:20260513T233128
CREATED:20251218T212749Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260305T030624Z
UID:10000003-1770206400-1770206400@datacenters.halttheharm.net
SUMMARY:Working Session on Gateway 2: Power & Utility Connections
DESCRIPTION:Halt the Harm Network participants are  invited to a special working session on Data Center Power & Utility Connections. \n\n\n\nThis is a key point where a big data center project figures out how it gets electricity. Data centers need huge amounts of power\, and utilities must approve new power lines or upgrades. These decisions can raise electricity bills for everyone and are often hidden in unfair deals. Community pressure and expert review can expose these hidden costs. \n\n\n\nRead more about Data Center Power & Utility Connections.\nData centers need massive amounts of electricity very often enough to power a small city. Before they can build\, developers must secure formal agreements with utility companies and typically need billions in grid upgrades: new substations\, transmission lines\, and power generation. These applications go through Public Utility Commissions (PUCs)\, which hold public hearings and allow community intervention. \n\n\n\nThis is where communities can fight back through formal channels. PUCs must evaluate who pays for grid upgrades and how the data center affects everyone’s electricity bills and grid reliability. Communities have successfully stopped or delayed projects by filing PUC interventions\, hiring independent engineers to challenge flawed studies\, and exposing attempts to shift infrastructure costs onto regular ratepayers. \n\n\n\nThe power gateway creates real leverage. Developers need fast approvals and interconnection queues in some regions have multiple year backlogs. Public opposition\, technical challenges to weak engineering studies\, and coalitions with consumer advocates and local businesses can force regulators to take a harder look at these projects. \n\n\n\n\n\nAbout these Working Sessions \n\n\n\nThese sessions are part of a network project addressing the harms of bad data centers.   \n\n\n\nThe format is a facilitated Zoom call to share on-the-ground experience\, tools\, resources\, and information. The outcome is a collection of refined tools and knowledge the whole network can use. As a participant you can access the shared document for notes and resources.
URL:https://datacenters.halttheharm.net/event/gateway-2-working-session-power-utility-connections/
CATEGORIES:Deep Dives
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260128T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260128T130000
DTSTAMP:20260513T233128
CREATED:20260121T024842Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260305T030624Z
UID:10000008-1769601600-1769605200@datacenters.halttheharm.net
SUMMARY:Meetup on Data Center Resources
DESCRIPTION:A monthly meetup focused on data centers. We want to welcome the many leaders who recently joined the network to participate in working sessions on data center issues.  \n\n\n\nIf you’re in a hurry\, attend the first 10-20 minutes for announcements.  If you want to meet people around specific topics\, stick around. Find the breakout room or topic that “clicks” and even propose a topic. \n\n\n\nNotes are shared with the larger network. Share in the comments if you can’t make it live but still want to contribute an update to the network. \n\n\n\nNew to HHN? Join early for an overview of network resources\, how to engage\, and ways to collaborate with others.
URL:https://datacenters.halttheharm.net/event/meetup-on-data-center-resources/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260121T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260121T130000
DTSTAMP:20260513T233128
CREATED:20251218T211933Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260305T030624Z
UID:10000002-1768996800-1769000400@datacenters.halttheharm.net
SUMMARY:Working Session on Gateway 1: Picking the Land & Getting Permits
DESCRIPTION:Halt the Harm Network participants are  invited to a special working session on Site Selection & Land Use. \n\n\n\nThe very first step where big data center projects decide where they’re going to build. This is when they deal with zoning\, buying land\, and getting the first permits. \n\n\n\nThis is a facilitated Zoom call to share on-the-ground experience\, tools\, resources\, and information. The outcome is a collection of refined tools and knowledge the whole network can use.
URL:https://datacenters.halttheharm.net/event/gateway-1-working-session-picking-the-land-getting-permits/
CATEGORIES:Deep Dives
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260115T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260115T130000
DTSTAMP:20260513T233128
CREATED:20260112T165825Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260305T030625Z
UID:10000007-1768478400-1768482000@datacenters.halttheharm.net
SUMMARY:Hidden in Plain Sight: Public Health Risks from Fossil Fuel Infrastructure and Data Center Expansion
DESCRIPTION:Data centers and cryptocurrency mining are driving new fossil fuel expansion across the U.S.\, often with serious\, under-recognized public health consequences. In this webinar\, researchers from Boston University present findings on health risks tied to fossil fuel infrastructure and data center expansion\, and discuss what communities\, advocates\, and policymakers need to know. \n\n\n\nAs data centers rapidly expand across the United States\, its physical impacts are becoming harder to ignore. Data centers and cryptocurrency mining facilities require massive amounts of energy\, often supplied by fossil fuel infrastructure that exposes nearby communities to increased health risks. \n\n\n\nIn this webinar\, researchers from Boston University present two complementary studies examining these impacts. One maps how nearly 47 million Americans live near fossil fuel infrastructure associated with elevated health risks. The other examines cryptocurrency mining as a “digital oil boom\,” revealing how an emerging tech industry reproduces\, and intensifies traditional pollution and health harms. \n\n\n\nTogether\, these talks explore how health risks are distributed\, why existing regulatory systems fail to protect communities\, and how public health research can support stronger oversight\, policy reform\, and community resistance.
URL:https://datacenters.halttheharm.net/event/hidden-in-plain-sight-public-health-risks-from-fossil-fuel-infrastructure-and-data-center-expansion/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://datacenters.halttheharm.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Health-risks-of-datacenters-Full.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251215T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251215T170000
DTSTAMP:20260513T233128
CREATED:20251208T152830Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260305T030625Z
UID:10000001-1765814400-1765818000@datacenters.halttheharm.net
SUMMARY:Data on Data Centers: Turning Messy\, Incomplete Info into Shared Power
DESCRIPTION:​Getting accurate\, consistent data on U.S. data centers is shockingly hard. Basic facts are needed: where facilities are\, how much power and water they use\, how many jobs they really create. Often this information is missing\, contradictory\, or locked behind paywalls and obscure filings. This webinar is a working session for “data nerds” and organizers to compare existing datasets\, map the gaps\, and sketch shared standards that actually help communities respond to the data center boom.
URL:https://datacenters.halttheharm.net/event/data-on-data-centers-turning-messy-incomplete-info-into-shared-power/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://datacenters.halttheharm.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/photo-1487058792275-0ad4aaf24ca7.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Elissa Yoder":MAILTO:elissa@halttheharm.net
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