Environmental Impacts - Stop Bad Data Centers

Homer City Generation Site Redevelopment — PA DEP Regulatory Documents

In Indiana County, Pennsylvania, the decommissioned 2 GW Homer City coal plant is converting to a 3,200-acre natural gas-powered data center campus. PA DEP's regulatory portal collects air quality plan approvals, NPDES water permits, blasting permits, asbestos demolition notices, emission reduction credits and wetland impact authorizations for the project.

National Zoning Atlas

More than 9,700 U.S. jurisdictions in one searchable, interactive zoning map. The National Zoning Atlas converts local zoning codes into standardized data covering housing type, minimum lot size and parking requirements. Built-in tools generate shareable snapshots, side-by-side town comparisons and downloadable screenshots.

Community & Social Impacts, Economic Impacts, Environmental Impacts

An Act … providing for energy and water reporting … . (SB146, PA)

Includes a requirement for data centers to report annually on energy and water usage, efficiency, environmental protection and waste heat recovery measures, and projected energy and water demand. Dept of Environmental Protection to report aggregate consumption trends, environmental impacts and recommendations to government and publicly.

Environmental Impacts, Grid & Infrastructure Impacts

Global Trends of Acidity in Rainfall and Its Impact on Plants and Soil

Acid rain events increase across India and parts of Asia as SO2 and NOx emissions rise from fossil fuel combustion and agriculture. This review tracks global rainwater pH trends from 1980 to 2021 and documents how acidic deposition damages plant growth, disrupts soil microbial communities and accelerates soil acidification.

Environmental Impacts

The People’s Justice Council

The People's Justice Council is a faith-based environmental justice organization that combines theological perspectives with organizing and policy advocacy. Their Minus AI campaign addresses the negative impacts of unchecked AI and data center expansion on Southern and frontline communities, providing resources and action steps for congregations and allies to promote climate justice.

AI-Specific Risk Analysis, Community & Social Impacts, Environmental Impacts, Environmental Justice, Grid & Infrastructure Impacts

From Plantations to Petrochemicals

Rev. Michael Malcolm discusses how current petrochemical and data center developments are situated on lands that were once plantations, perpetuating extraction and environmental racism in Black communities. He advocates for faith leaders to engage in justice work and highlights the importance of community care, coalition-building, and mutual aid as vital responses to the expansion of…

Community & Social Impacts, Environmental Impacts, Environmental Justice, Public Health Impacts

Nuisance Map

In Michigan, residents document noise, light pollution and well water problems from data centers, solar farms and construction through GPS-verified reports with timestamps and tamper-proof files meeting state court evidence standards. No account needed — reports appear on a public map, building a shared evidence record regulators can act on. A project of the ALEA…

Community & Social Impacts, Environmental Impacts, Public Health Impacts

Michigan Nuisance Map

Across Michigan, communities are dealing with noise, light pollution, well water problems, and other harm from data centers, solar farms, and construction projects. You're not alone — and together, we can build the evidence record that makes a difference.

Community & Social Impacts, Environmental Impacts, Public Health Impacts

PurpleAir HyperLocal Real-Time Monitoring

PurpleAir makes sensors that empower communities who collect hyper-local, real-time, air quality data and share it with the public. They also report data from those monitors in an interactive map.

Community & Social Impacts, Environmental Impacts, Public Health Impacts

More Domestic Chip-Making Means More ‘Forever Chemicals’

Each modern chip fab requires 200 to 300 metric tons of PFA fluoropolymers — persistent "forever chemicals" linked to cancers and groundwater contamination. Chemours, the only U.S. manufacturer, plans up to $1 billion in expansion as the CHIPS Act's $52 billion reshoring push drives demand, colliding with regulatory efforts to restrict PFAS.

Economic Impacts, Environmental Impacts, Environmental Justice, Public Health Impacts

Impact Type: Environmental Impacts