Key facts
- Major environmental groups like the Sierra Club and NRDC are campaigning against data center construction.
- The movement aims to leverage voter engagement and secure funding for environmental causes.
- New York Governor Kathy Hochul has paused new large-scale data center construction in the state.
- Data centers are projected to double their power usage by 2030, consuming up to 15% of U.S. electricity.
- Activists fear this demand will lead to increased reliance on fossil fuels and undermine climate gains.
Major environmental organizations are intensifying their efforts to combat the rapid expansion of data centers across the United States, viewing the issue as a critical new front in their fight for environmental protection. Groups including the Sierra Club, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Earthjustice, and Food and Water Watch are mobilizing national campaigns and supporting local initiatives against these facilities, which are significant consumers of electricity and water.
This renewed focus comes after a period of environmental setbacks under the Trump administration. The data center opposition offers a chance to re-engage progressive supporters and generate funding. Jane Kleeb, founder of BOLD Alliance, noted that mobilizing communities against data centers is easier than building new infrastructure. The strategy aims to leverage the movement's strength in rallying people against developments perceived to harm air and water quality, similar to past campaigns against fracking and pipelines.
A significant early victory for these groups came when New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced a pause on most new large-scale data center construction in the state. This decision allows for the establishment of new standards and potentially prevents the expansion of fossil fuel power sources to meet the growing energy demands of data centers. Environmentalists warn that without proper regulation, the surge in data center construction could lead to increased carbon emissions and undermine progress in clean energy.
National groups are providing crucial support to local grassroots efforts, offering legal assistance, policy research, and organizational tools. This mirrors tactics used during the rise of fracking, where local opposition was amplified by national organizations. The environmental movement sees the data center boom as a threat to decades of work, particularly as these facilities are expected to double their power consumption by 2030, potentially consuming up to 15% of U.S. electricity, with natural gas likely supplying a large portion of this demand.