Why more residents are saying ‘No’ to AI data centers in their backyard : NPR

NPR reports on the growing resistance from Virginia residents to data center development, focusing on Chesapeake where a proposed facility near homes was unanimously blocked by City Council after organized community opposition. The article profiles activist Elena Schlossberg, who has become a national resource for communities fighting data centers, and highlights key concerns including noise from cooling systems, massive power demands (40 GW of new capacity planned for one state utility), and the tension between industry growth driven by AI and residents' quality of life. Useful for communities organizing against nearby data center proposals and advocates tracking the nationwide NIMBY movement.