This resource is co-created by leaders in HHN to provide background on the issue and strategic insight into the interventions available. You are welcome to use the information and resources provided here however they are useful for your work!
Or copy/paste the url directly, https://datacenters.halttheharm.net
Overview of AI Data Center Harms
Data centers— the massive industrial facilities that power AI, cloud computing, and digital services— are rapidly expanding across the United States. While tech companies promote these facilities as clean, high-tech operations that bring jobs and investment, the reality is far different. Communities are discovering that data centers consume enormous amounts of energy and water, generate noise and air pollution, demand costly infrastructure upgrades, and deliver far fewer local benefits than promised— all while receiving billions in public tax subsidies.
The rise of AI has dramatically accelerated these impacts. Training massive AI models requires months of continuous operation on giant data center clusters, resulting in AI workloads consuming 3–8x more energy than traditional computing. This unprecedented demand is driving a new wave of data center construction that threatens communities already grappling with climate change, resource scarcity, and economic inequality.
There are currently more than 5,500 data centers nationwide, with U.S. data centers consuming about 4.4% of total U.S. electricity in 2023— a figure projected to potentially double or triple by 2028. Data center power demand is projected to grow 30x by 2035. Despite industry promises of renewable energy, 56% of data center electricity still comes from fossil fuels, and data center carbon emissions increased 300% from 2018–2024.
Communities fighting data center proposals need specialized analysis and strategic support. Traditional opposition strategies may not address the unique risks posed by AI-scale facilities. The Stop Bad Data Centers project provides the research, frameworks, and expert connections communities need to protect themselves.
Here’s what’s Included:
- Important background and context about data center impacts
- The Seven Gateways Framework for strategic community intervention
- Major health, environmental, and environmental justice concerns
- Economic impacts including corporate tax giveaways and job creation myths
- Energy and water consumption analysis
- AI-specific risk analysis and what makes these facilities different
- Human rights and labor exploitation concerns
- Policy strategies and a state-by-state policy tracker
- A national interactive data center map (powered by FracTracker)
- Taking Action: Help Desk, expert connections, and campaign resources
- Resource library and reference index
Key Impact Areas
Environmental Impacts: Carbon emissions, water consumption for cooling systems, chemical storage hazards, and habitat disruption. Data center emissions reached 105 million metric tons annually, with average carbon intensity 50% higher than the national average.
Public Health Impacts: Air quality degradation from backup diesel generators and polluting power sources, chemical storage risks from batteries, coolants, and hazardous materials, and noise pollution affecting nearby residents. These impacts disproportionately affect vulnerable communities.
Economic Impacts: State losses from data center tax breaks collectively exceed $3 billion annually nationwide. Tax exemptions that started as modest incentives have turned into open-ended giveaways with costs spiraling out of control, while promised job creation rarely materializes at the scale advertised.
Grid & Infrastructure Impacts: Massive energy demands strain local power grids, lock communities into fossil fuel dependency, and drive rate increases for residential customers. Infrastructure upgrades needed to serve data centers are often subsidized by existing ratepayers.
Community & Social Impacts: Lack of transparency through non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), limited public input on siting decisions, and erosion of democratic oversight. Communities often learn about data center projects only after key decisions have already been made.
Human Rights & Labor Exploitation: AI development relies on exploitative data labeling practices, particularly in the Global South, where workers endure traumatic content moderation for extremely low wages. This broader pattern of extraction mirrors colonial economic dynamics.
The Seven Gateways Framework
The Stop Bad Data Centers project has developed a strategic intervention framework identifying seven critical points where communities can fight back. Each gateway represents a stage in the data center development process where organized opposition has proven effective:
- Site Selection & Land Acquisition — Early organizing during land assembly can raise costs and create uncertainty that halts projects before they’re even announced. Key tools: proactive zoning, landowner education, public records monitoring.
- Power & Utility Interconnection — Utility approval processes offer opportunities to expose true costs and rate impacts through grid impact studies, rate increase exposure, and PUC interventions.
- Water Rights & Environmental Permits — Environmental review requirements create formal comment periods where scientific evidence and community concerns must be addressed, including water usage studies and environmental impact statements.
- Tax Incentive Negotiations — Public hearings on tax breaks offer high-visibility moments where economic analysis and organized opposition can change votes and reduce or deny tax packages.
- Financial Structuring & Credit Approvals — Documented community opposition affects project financing as credit rating agencies and banks increasingly factor in “social license” risk through ESG campaigns and investor pressure.
- Construction & Operational Permits — Even approved projects need multiple permits, and each permit process offers leverage for conditions or delays that can reshape or stop projects.
- Operational Oversight & Watchdogging — (Coming soon) Ongoing accountability and community monitoring of active data center operations.
Taking Action
Get Expert Help Fast: The Stop Bad Data Centers Help Desk connects community members facing data center proposals with experienced organizers, technical experts, and legal advisors who can provide specialized support. The project guarantees a 48-hour response time.
Explore the Full Project Site: Visit datacenters.halttheharm.net to access gateway strategies, impact analyses, the policy tracker, resource library, and national data center map.
Track Policy Across States: Use the Policy Tracker to monitor data center legislation and regulatory developments in your state.
View the National Map: Explore the interactive data center map powered by FracTracker to see data center locations and their proximity to communities, water sources, and power infrastructure.
Join the Network: Connect with the broader community of leaders fighting data center harms by joining Halt the Harm Network.
Contact Us: Submit a help desk request or email support@halttheharm.net for personalized guidance.