Data centers face growing backlash over noise, waste, and resource use as communities push back
By
N'dea Yancey-Bragg
The bagel they save for the regulars. Don't skim, savour.
Summary
Data centers, the massive facilities powering AI and digital services, are facing growing backlash from communities over noise, resource consumption, and environmental waste. With over 4,300 data centers already built in the U.S., state and local governments are caught between critics who see them as unwanted neighbors and supporters who view them as essential infrastructure for the future. Some states have offered tax incentives to attract these facilities, but concerns about their impact are intensifying.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledThey're loud, costly and wasteful — something you wouldn't want in your neighborhood, according to critics.
But these high-tech centers are the future, supporters say.
Caught in between, state and local governments across the nation are trying to figure out what to do about data centers.
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