UPDATE: Pennsylvania communities must act now as the rapid expansion of data centers threatens local environments and health. With major corporations like Amazon establishing vast campuses across the state, residents are urged to rally for protective measures before construction begins.
Just announced by PennFuture, a nonprofit environmental organization, a series of seven videos will guide municipalities on how to manage the impending data center boom. The first video, now available, is crucial for educating communities about the implications of such developments.
Why this matters NOW: The push for data centers is intensifying, driven by the demand for technology that supports everything from social media to artificial intelligence. However, concerns about environmental degradation and community disruption loom large. According to Environmental Health News, former President Donald Trump proposed changes to environmental review processes that could expedite the construction of data centers, raising alarms about potential pollution and resource depletion.
Data centers are essential facilities housing numerous servers and infrastructure that support modern digital services. Yet, their impacts can be severe. Residents near existing centers report overwhelming noise, light pollution, and significant water consumption. A single facility can use up to 5 million gallons of water daily, the equivalent of what a town of 10,000 to 50,000 people might consume annually. This excessive demand has already led to dry wells in nearby homes.
Critical insights from PennFuture emphasize the need for municipalities to establish ordinances that address key issues such as water use, noise, and aesthetics. “Municipalities must take seriously their responsibility to plan for this new land use,” stated a PennFuture representative. Communities are encouraged to adopt the proposed model ordinance to ensure that the development of data centers does not compromise local health and environmental integrity.
The upcoming video series will tackle vital topics, including:
– What is a data center? (available now)
– Inside a data center (August 4)
– Data center water usage (August 11)
– Data center power usage (August 18)
– Data center impact on your power grid (August 25)
– What can municipalities do to prepare? (September 2)
– Economic impacts of data centers (September 8)
Residents are urged to advocate for these protections at borough, township, and city council meetings. PennFuture remains committed to providing resources and guidance as communities navigate this critical juncture.
As Pennsylvania braces for the data center influx, the call for action is clear: protect our air, land, and water. For further information and to access the videos, visit pennfuture.org/datacenters.
Stay informed and take charge before it’s too late—our communities depend on it.