AI Data Centers Face Backlash From Scarred Communities

Communities with histories of industrial pollution are pushing back hard against AI data center construction. In Philadelphia, activists like Shawmar Pitts, who grew up near the East Coast's largest oil refinery, are leading calls for a moratorium, citing fears of pollution, noise, and false promises of job creation. The concerns are backed by alarming projections: by 2035, U.S. data centers could consume more natural gas than Germany and Japan combined. Additional data center demand may generate an extra 1 million metric tons of greenhouse gas daily. New York Governor Kathy Hochul has already signed an executive order halting new permits for large projects in response to growing public pressure.