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EHP – Protective Buffers
The Protective Buffers PA campaign advocates for increasing minimum setback distances between shale gas and petrochemical infrastructure and residential areas in Pennsylvania. Current state law allows well pads as close as 500 feet from homes, with no setback requirements for power plants or pipelines. A 2024 petition to the Environmental Quality Board proposes buffers of…
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Addressing Data Center Impacts & Ensuring Transparency
Virginia's data center industry is driving industrial sprawl, rising water consumption, air pollution from thousands of diesel backup generators, and a nearly $1 billion annual state tax break with no environmental or transparency conditions. This one-pager from VCN, SELC, and partner organizations argues that localities lack the authority to assess regional-scale impacts and calls for…
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Data Center Model Ordinance by Kentucky Resources Council
In response to public concerns about data center development in Kentucky, a Model Data Center Zoning Ordinance has been created to assist localities in regulating the siting and operation of large data centers. The ordinance aims to ensure responsible development while protecting landowners' rights and community quality of life, drawing on best practices from across…
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Getting it Right : Local Approaches to Data Center Development – SELC
SELC advocates for using zoning ordinances and local advocacy to address challenges posed by data centers. The report emphasizes the importance of transparent decision-making and public engagement to ensure that local residents influence how data centers affect their communities, rather than developers and companies.
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Protecting Our Environment in the Digital Age by Southern Environmental Law Center
Focus on community and social impacts related to environmental protection in the digital age, emphasizing site selection, utility interconnection, water rights, and construction permits. The report is a draft from the Southern Environmental Law Center, aimed at public engagement and advocacy.
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Colorado Data Centers Talking Points 2.0
Colorado coalition partners compile talking points on data center impacts across the state — water depletion, power grid overload, public health threats and climate acceleration. Addresses how proposed facilities strain local water supplies and electricity infrastructure while creating environmental permitting challenges specific to Colorado's regulatory landscape.
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Answering Your Questions about Data Centers | Hoosier Environmental Council
The Hoosier Environmental Council's data center resource hub provides Indiana communities and policymakers with guidance on navigating data center development. Featuring a detailed policymaker's guide, it covers four critical areas — energy demand and grid impacts, water consumption and treatment, land use and siting, and community impact including noise, jobs, and benefit agreements. The guide…
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Data Centers: Transparency Makes Good Neighbors – Science for Georgia
Science for Georgia's comprehensive resource page on data center impacts in the state, covering power and water consumption, tax revenue losses, job creation myths, and community health effects. The page provides a step-by-step advocacy framework — from demanding transparency and writing local ordinances to negotiating community benefit agreements — along with an interactive data center…
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The Dangers of Data Centers
This resource from the Environmental Health Project details the health and environmental hazards data centers impose on nearby communities, including noise and light pollution, air pollution from gas-powered facilities, massive water consumption, and increased energy costs for residential consumers. With a focus on Pennsylvania, the article highlights how these impacts disproportionately affect minority and low-income…
Exposing AI Data Center Threats and Harms