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New Data Center Construction: Invited or Feared? | Data Center Frontier
This Data Center Frontier article compares two reports with conflicting findings on community attitudes toward data center construction: an Airedale/Modine survey showing 70% of Americans are comfortable with nearby data centers, and a Data Center Watch report documenting $64 billion in projects blocked or delayed by local opposition across 28 states. The piece highlights 142…
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Tools and Resources | US EPA
The EPA provides resources related to cumulative impacts, including an Interim Framework for incorporating these considerations into programs, prioritizing cumulative impacts research to improve community health, and legal tools for advancing environmental justice. Key initiatives include guidance for NEPA document reviews and the EJScreen tool for assessing environmental concerns in neighborhoods.
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The Environmental Justice Siting Law – NYSDEC
The Environmental Justice Siting Law requires consideration of pollution impacts on disadvantaged communities in environmental decision-making. It amends SEQRA and UPA regulations, mandating lead agencies to evaluate disproportionate pollution burdens and incorporate a new Disadvantaged Community Assessment Tool. The law also requires DEC to assess existing burdens during the permitting process for specific permits, ensuring…
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Data center payouts are huge. Saving farmland? Priceless
The expansion of data centers in rural America is threatening farmland as tech companies seek cost-effective locations for their operations. Farmers face lucrative offers to sell their land but often resist due to emotional ties and the impact on agriculture. This trend is leading to increased taxation, utility costs, and competition for resources like water.…
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Paved over: America’s tech bet is reshaping farm country
America's investment in technology is significantly transforming agricultural regions, impacting land use and financial dynamics in farming communities.
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Data Center Power Play | Union of Concerned Scientists
The U.S. electricity sector faces a surge in demand due to the growth of AI-driven data centers, with projections suggesting their electricity use could rise significantly. Current reliance on fossil fuels for power generation poses risks to climate goals and public health. Transitioning to clean energy sources like wind and solar, combined with battery storage,…
Exposing AI Data Center Threats and Harms