Earth on Fire

Data Center Moratorium Now!

Data centers are nothing new, they started out as a place to hold computers (when computers were the size of a whole building) and have evolved into what most people would call “the cloud.” All of your online photos, health information, emails and more live in warehouses full of computers. They also house other data like Flock’s AI system “FreeForm” being used to surveil Americans, ICE’s facial recognition data, and hidden data from defense contractors. Data centers have been around since the 1940s and in 2006 Google changed the landscape with the first hyperscale facility (IBM). They have continued to evolve with the uptake of Artificial Intelligence (AI) which has rapidly accelerated the growth resource needs.

One population that has been making headlines across the U.S. are farmers. Mega-corporations are knocking on the doors of farmers and offering multi-million dollar buy outs and they are leaving empty handed. The Guardian told the story of Ida Huddleston who rejected an offer of $33 million for her family farm in Kentucky. These individuals are working to protect the land and natural resources in their communities but are often under threat of utility companies evoking eminent domain.

It is important to note that data centers have a disproportionate impact on Black communities. This comes with a long history of corporations choosing locations to pollute like cancer alley in the Southeast. Black organizers have been leading the fight against data centers in Georgia, Alabama, Maryland and other states. The NAACP has also started a campaign called, “Stop Dirty Data Centers” which provides voting and negotiation agreements.

The issue with data centers is that we aren’t clear on how much energy and water they are using. “Over 97% of the water consumed by major data center operators is drawn from municipal drinking water systems” (AGU Advances, Privette). This means that as much of the U.S. enters drought and water shortages, municipal water services are supporting massive data centers and their own populations. This has resulted in community members from across the political spectrum calling for data center moratoriums and advocating for their water rights. More transparency is needed from corporations about water and energy usage.

Even though the exact numbers are unclear, we know that data centers use a lot of energy. Those energy needs put a strain on municipal power infrastructure like transformers, power lines, and powerplants. Some corporations, like Elon Musk’s xAI, have found workarounds and have been running “temporary” unpermitted national gas plants (Food and Water Watch). These unpremitted power plants worsen the air quality and can have detrimental health impacts on the people who live nearby including increasing rates of cancer and polluting their water supply.

Communities across the U.S. are coming together across political lines and voting on ballot measures that reject data centers. According to NPR’s Machine Gods podcast, in the 2026 mid-term elections 38 out of 39 ballot measures to restrict data centers won. In the coming years, AI and data center policy may be an area of bi-partisan opportunity for change.

It is unclear what the future will hold but one thing is certain, in order to protect our communities we must advocate for a data center moratorium. Unlimited growth is something that is only possible in the vacuum of capitalist thinking and corporations are relying on that mindset to continue expansion. Data centers are polluting our air and water and driving up utility costs in a time where the cost of living is already high compared to wages. In order to prioritize family sustaining wages and safety, something must be done. As we enter the next chapter of American innovation it is important to understand that our resources are finite and we must prioritize laying the groundwork to support future generations survival over corporate interests.

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