Data Centers
Data centers threaten not only the health of our communities but their very existence. It is up to us to protect our families — no elected official can save us.
Arming you with the facts and resources you need to defend your water, land, air, health, energy systems, local budgets, and right to self-governance.
Moms Across America educates and empowers mothers and others with actions and solutions to create healthy communities. Data centers threaten not only the health of our communities but their very existence.
Water consumption, water and air contamination, power shortages, the release of toxins from being built on Superfund and Brownfield sites, and constant noise and vibrations are destroying the health, safety, and fertility of communities where data centers have been rapidly constructed by the thousands across America. These tens of thousands of square feet to acre facilities are being constructed without complying with established federal regulations for energy, water, and environmental assessments — contributing to flooding from water displacement, sinkholes from using 5 million gallons of water a day (leaving aquifers empty), and disruption of the presence and reproductive capabilities of plants, wildlife, and livestock nearby.
Data centers are located near 42% of Americans today, and over 50% have been halted by local actions. And this administration is adamant about continuing its expansion for military purposes. The disregard for our health and safety reminds us that once again, it is up to us to protect our families and communities; no elected official can save us. Please get involved and help create health and freedom in America. We need each and every one of us to make a difference.
42%
of Americans now live near a data center
50%+
have been halted by local community action
5M gal
of water a single data center can use per day, draining aquifers
1,000s
rapidly constructed across America, often without required review
This page is a work in progress and will continue to be updated as our team gathers more research, resources, community stories, and action steps. Please check back often for new information, updated materials, and additional tools for communities facing data center development. You can contribute to the data on this page by emailing links and information to info@momsacrossamerica.org.
The Data Center Down Low
Weekly Updates
- Policy
UN chief calls on AI firms to come clean on their environmental costs
At London Climate Action Week, UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on AI companies to publicly disclose their data centers' water, carbon, and land-use impacts, warning about the rapidly increasing power and water needs of data centers. His best quote: “If AI is to help build a better future, it must be honest about what it costs us now.”
Read at Reuters - Policy
40 mayors back a new Global Urban Data Centres Pact
Mayors from 40 major cities, including London, Phoenix, Melbourne, Barcelona, Chennai, and Boise, backed a new Global Urban Data Centres Pact to curb the pressure data centers put on power grids, water supplies, and communities.
Read at AP - Energy
Texas approves new ERCOT process as data-center grid backlog explodes
Texas approved a new ERCOT (Electric Reliability Council of Texas) process to connect data centers to the grid, citing a massive backlog of more than 438,000 megawatts of large-load requests in queue — 90% of them for data centers. The new process “batches” applications together, which they say will resolve the backlog and organize better studies. Meanwhile, they project that electricity demand in Texas will quadruple by 2032.
Read at Austin American-Statesman - Legal
California town sued after halting what could be the state's biggest data center
A developer wants to build what could become the biggest data center in California, but local officials and residents say it should not move forward without stronger environmental review and public oversight. The town initially approved combining several large tracts of land to create the site, then backed out of the deal by passing a 45-day moratorium to do more research. The town is now being sued by the developer.
Read at CalMatters - Health
Oregon: Amazon data center linked to rare cancers and miscarriages
Residents and advocates in Morrow County, Oregon are linking nitrate-contaminated groundwater and serious health issues to an Amazon data center in their area. Reports include clusters of rare cancers, muscle conditions, and miscarriages. 68 of 70 wells tested surpassed the federal limit for nitrates in drinking water. Of the first 30 homes visited for well testing, 25 residents had recently had miscarriages. Advocates are calling it environmental racism, where this infrastructure is pushed onto rural, low-income communities. Amazon's response is that the story is “misleading and inaccurate” because its facilities use “a very small fraction of the overall water system” that “isn't enough to have any meaningful impact on water quality.” This just underscores the need for enforceable standards.
Read at TechSpot - Health
OpenAI: ~560,000 weekly users showed possible signs of a mental-health crisis
A report released by OpenAI revealed that about 0.07% of its weekly active users — roughly 560,000 people out of 800 million — exhibited possible signs of mental health emergencies related to psychosis or mania during interactions with their AI models.
Read at WIRED - Culture
Polaroid launches a bold anti-AI campaign: “The Best of Summer Is Analog”
Polaroid launched a bold anti-AI campaign called “The Best of Summer Is Analog” on outdoor advertising spaces across the country. It uses provocative slogans like “go jump in some water before data centers drink it all up,” “less getting tracked, more getting lost,” and “you can't bask in blue light.”
Read at Business Insider - AI
A NY public school gets ready to pilot the first humanoid robot teacher
Public schools in Salamanca, NY are getting ready to pilot the first humanoid robot teacher. The stated goal is to encourage student academics and expose them to emerging technologies. Optio offers AI tutoring, personalized avatars, multilingual homework help, and 24/7 academic support.
Read at Interesting Engineering - Surveillance
At least 18 officers caught using Flock cameras to stalk partners and exes
At least 18 law enforcement officers have been caught using Flock cameras to stalk romantic partners or exes. Flock cameras are networked, automated license-plate-reading cameras that scan vehicles and plates for government surveillance. If you'd like to know whether anyone has been searching for you on Flock, you can check haveibeenflocked.com.
Read at The Drive
Have a Story to Share?
Have you seen a data center project proposed in your area? Do you have a community win, cautionary story, local news article, public comment, meeting recording, permit document, photo, screenshot, or other helpful information to share? We invite you to submit your story, along with any links, documents, or sources that may help other communities learn from what is happening in your area.
Your contribution can help build a stronger national picture of how data center development is affecting communities across the country. We need each and every one of us to make a difference.
Email info@momsacrossamerica.org