For Issue #5 of the Stop Bad Data Centers newsletter, we’re grounding into what communities are facing right now: the environmental and public health threats from rapid data center buildout—air pollution, water impacts, noise, and the day-to-day stress of living next to industrial infrastructure.
We’re also to connecting the dots on what’s driving this boom, like huge tax subsidies and behind-closed-doors deals.
Halt the Harm Network is going to be keeping an eye on this, but want to hear from you:
What kinds of questions and conflicts are coming up in your town, school district, or home?
Hit reply to this email and let’s chat.
This bi-weekly newsletter is a new project from Halt the Harm Network. For more regular updates and meetups on data center organizing, request access to the Stop Bad Data Centers group inside the HHN community space.
What We’re Following
The Hidden Costs of Virginia’s Data Center Subsidy and How They Undermine Public Schools
Virginia’s sales and use tax exemptions for data centers has reduced state sales tax collection by an estimated $1.02 billion, $267 million of which would have supported K-12 schools. And those figures only account for state level losses, with local impact likely being much higher. This report, published by Good Jobs First, argues that it’s time for a policy change—one that considers the new technological scale of data center development, and requires disclosure of revenue losses at the state, county, and municipal level.
Data Center Boom Risks the Health of Already Vulnerable Communities
This Tech Policy Press analysis warns that growth in data center development is concentrating new pollution and health risks in communities that are already overburdened. The article highlights case studies from California where data centers cluster in high-pollution areas, and cautions that “sustainable” branding does not erase cumulative harms when projects are sited in historically marginalized neighborhoods. Stronger zoning, impact assessment and transparency can bolster communities with real decision-making power before projects move forward.
Millions of Tons of E-Waste
Globally, only 22% of e-waste is formally documented as collected and recycled, and the remaining majority is often landfilled, dumped, or exported—frequently to developing countries with few protections for workers and communities. This article, produced for the Clean Energy Research Institute, shows how the environmental harms of data centers extend beyond borders, connecting local fights to global problems.
Event Recap
All event replays can be found in the Recordings Space in the HHN Network.
Gateway 7: Operational Oversight
Gateway 7 is about watching what happens during and after a data center is built, so communities can spot problems early and hold developers accountable.
A few things communities can track:
- Air, water, noise, and wildlife impacts
- Photos or drone footage from outside the fence line
- Emergency generator use, including noise reports or state filings
- Traffic accidents, nuisance complaints, outages, and well water changes
- Water levels, wastewater reports, and drinking water data
- Promises made during siting or permitting, including jobs, tax payments, donations, and electricity rates
- Agency inspections and permit compliance reports
The key takeaway: start collecting “before” data now so communities can compare it to what happens after construction or operations begin.
Have questions or comments you’d like to share? Email Network Fellow Tamara Saltman: tamara@halttheharm.net.
Connecting the Dots: Data Centers, Generative AI, and the Tools to Fight Back
HHN was grateful to be joined by Honor the Earth for a conversation on how AI infrastructure, including generative AI, hyper scale data centers, critical minerals mining, nuclear expansion and surveillance are all part of the same system—and how these impacts are showing up in communities, putting our air, water, and energy systems at risk.
Join us for Part 2 of the webinar series on April 28, where Honor the Earth will go deeper into how the rapid buildout of data centers is enabling Big Tech’s growing reach into our daily lives, especially through privacy and surveillance concerns.
Upcoming Events
The State of AI Data Center Policy in the US
Join us for a conversation with Tim Bernard, an independent tech policy analyst who tracks emerging data center policy and legislation related to online safety and data centers. Tim has written and consulted extensively on this topic. He’ll share updates on current policy trends, and answer questions based on his ongoing research.
From Understanding to Action: Organizing in the Age of AI & Data Centers
Join Honor the Earth for a conversation on what it looks like to apply ideas to real-world organizing. Together, we’ll explore how these interconnected systems show up locally and how communities can respond in ways that are rooted in sovereignty, relationship, and collective power.
Data Center Tax Abatements: Why States and Localities Must Disclose These Soaring Revenue Losses
Many states and local governments are giving away massive tax breaks to data center developers, resulting in billions of dollars in lost public revenue.
In this webinar, Anthony Elmo will walk through findings from Good Jobs First’s latest report. Together, we’ll unpack how these tax abatements work, why so many are kept out of public view, and what it means for communities, public budgets, and essential services like schools and infrastructure.
Closing Comment
The data center boom is already changing our communities through air and water impacts, noise, energy demand, and the strain it puts on our relationships.
As you organize, keep naming what’s at stake and who is being asked to carry the burden. And keep pushing for transparency and accountability from the companies and public officials making these deals.
More soon,
Elissa
P.S. If you have on-the-ground stories or evidence about data center impacts, please reply.
One of my projects is to catalog and organize materials for the network, so reach out anytime.
We’re especially looking for what you’re seeing related to water, air, noise, and any concerns about chemicals and chemical storage on-site. These local details help other communities prepare and act earlier.
