In recent years, the proliferation of data centers has sparked significant dispute among environmental activists and local communities, particularly in Northern Virginia, where the concentration of data centers is among the highest in the world. Prominent in this debate is Julie Bolthouse, an environmental campaigner and director of the Piedmont Environmental Council. Bolthouse highlights her deep concerns regarding the rapid expansion of these facilities, referring to Northern Virginia as the “Wall Street of the data center industry” due to its overwhelming number of data centers, which exceed 477—significantly more than states like Texas and California.
Data centers are essentially enormous warehouses packed with servers and computers that handle and process vast amounts of data for websites, corporations, and government entities. Their rise began in the 1990s when Northern Virginia became an appealing area for such infrastructure, thanks in part to its proximity to Washington, D.C., coupled with historically low electricity and land costs. The city of Ashburn, merely 35 miles west of the US capital, is particularly notable—and often dubbed “Data Center Alley”—with studies suggesting that approximately 70% of global internet traffic traverses this region.
This growth in data centers is primarily fueled by the increasing demand for computing power, notably amplified by the ongoing boom in artificial intelligence (AI). A recent study by Moody’s anticipates a doubling of global data center capacity within the next five years. Despite the economic advantages touted by the industry, Bolthouse and fellow environmentalists in Northern Virginia protest this expansion, claiming it negatively affects their quality of life. They cite increased electricity demand, disruption from construction—particularly concerning new electricity cables crossing conservation areas—and the detrimental impacts to air quality from backup diesel generators.
Moreover, Bolthouse points out that local households in Virginia and its neighboring state of Maryland are anticipated to shoulder the costs of necessary infrastructure upgrades to support these data centers, an undue burden on residents. In response to these trends, Bolthouse and her colleagues are actively mobilizing against new data center applications, engaging in the local zoning processes, and advocating for greater awareness within local governmental bodies.
Similar environmental movements are emerging worldwide. In Ireland, for example, data centers account for 21% of the country’s electricity consumption. Tony Lowes, representing Friends of the Irish Environment, articulates concerns that these facilities not only pose a strain on the national electricity grid but also threaten renewable energy targets—especially given that many data centers continue to rely on fossil fuels. Currently, they are challenging plans for a significant €1.2 billion data center project in County Clare.
As global scrutiny on data center sustainability rises, some corporations claim to be addressing environmental concerns. Microsoft recently initiated its “Data Center Community Pledge,” which includes commitments to 100% renewable energy sourcing by the following year and aims for its operations to be “water positive” by 2030. Similarly, Amazon Web Services has introduced water recycling practices in some facilities, aligning their goals with the growing demand for sustainability.
Despite these corporate pledges, criticisms persist. Bolthouse argues that the industry must enhance their sustainability efforts, noting that failure to adapt could lead to soaring electricity prices that impact both consumers and data center operators. Additionally, she emphasizes the broader environmental challenges, such as water scarcity, which are likely to affect the data center sector’s operations in the future.
The resistance to data centers is not limited to the United States and Ireland. Activism appears across South America as well. In Uruguay, Google recently altered the design of a data center to address concerns surrounding water usage, influenced by protests over water rights amid a national drought. In conjunction, similar concerns have led Google to halt its data center plans in Chile altogether.
Ultimately, as environmental campaigns gain momentum globally, Bolthouse remains cautiously optimistic that the data center industry will acknowledge the need for improvements in sustainability. She believes that adaptability and responsible practices are not just beneficial for the environment but are essential for the viability of the industry in the long term.
