-
·
Sovereignty – AI Now Institute
Despite branding local data centers as sovereign infrastructure, Meta, Amazon and Alphabet retain full ownership of the cloud hardware they place in Global South countries. Researcher Rafael Grohmann proposes "popular digital sovereignty," drawn from Brazil's Homeless Workers Movement, where communities build worker-owned tech cooperatives independent of Big Tech and the state.
-
·
Your Hour With APA Virginia: Planning for the Infrastructure of the Digital Age
A comprehensive APA Virginia webinar presented by Julie Bolthouse of Piedmont Environmental Council covering the land use impacts of data center development in Virginia. The presentation addresses energy infrastructure requirements, water consumption from cooling systems, air quality concerns from diesel backup generators, noise impacts, fire safety considerations, and the strain on the electric grid from…
-
·
How A.I. Companies Are Turning Into Energy Companies – The New York Times
This New York Times video examines how AI companies are becoming energy companies as the race to develop AI products drives a worldwide search for new power sources to fuel data centers. Technology correspondent Karen Weise explains that AI-specific data centers are significantly more power-intensive than traditional facilities and describes how tech companies are investing…
-
·
Coming To A Town Near You (Instagram Reel)
An Instagram reel discusses the impact of data centers on communities, highlighting concerns about local government decisions and the potential negative effects on the environment. The video features humorous commentary and encourages public engagement, with viewers sharing their thoughts and experiences related to data center developments.
-
·
The Local Impact of Data Centers with Julie Bolthouse – YouTube
Julie Bolthouse highlighted the rapid growth of AI data centers in Virginia, which now occupy 57 million square feet, with another 189 million approved. These centers consume 25% of the state's electricity, leading to projected residential bill increases from $142 to as high as $315 by 2040. Community impacts include harm to land use, water…
-
·
Your Hour With APA Virginia: Planning for the Infrastructure of the Digital Age
This APA Virginia webinar, presented by Julie Bolthouse of the Piedmont Environmental Council, provides a comprehensive overview of data center development impacts for local planners and community advocates in Virginia. It covers energy infrastructure and grid strain, water consumption from cooling systems, noise pollution from generators and HVAC, air quality concerns from diesel backup generators,…
-
·
Intro to Community Benefits, Good Neighbor Agreements, Project Labor Agreements, and More – ReImagine Appalachia
Overview of community benefits, good neighbor agreements, and project labor agreements as part of the ReImagine Appalachia initiative, highlighting their importance in fostering local engagement and support for projects in the region.
-
·
Community Benefits Agreements- ReImagine Appalachia: -Economic, Community and Responsible Development Principles by ReImagine Appalachia
ReImagine Appalachia explains Community Benefits, showing how communities can push big projects to give something back to communities. • Explanations of Community Benefits Agreements (CBAs) and how they work • Guides and toolkits for communities and advocates • Policy examples and model language • Case studies showing community benefits in action • Resources connecting economic…
-
·
How AI Uses Our Drinking Water — BBC World Service
This BBC World Service video explains how AI chatbots and data centers consume significant amounts of drinking water for cooling, with experts estimating that 10–50 AI queries can use roughly 500ml of water. It covers how liquid cooling systems work, why clean drinking water is required, and notes that up to 80% of cooling water…
-
·
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…
Exposing AI Data Center Threats and Harms
Resource Type: Videos
-
·
How A.I. Companies Are Turning Into Energy Companies – The New York Times
This New York Times video examines how AI companies are becoming energy companies as the race to develop AI products drives a worldwide search for new power sources to fuel data centers. Technology correspondent Karen Weise explains that AI-specific data centers are significantly more power-intensive than traditional facilities and describes how tech companies are investing…