The mammoth, sprawling construction site definitely seems like a galaxy far, far away, but it's being built right here on earth—in a rural community in northeast Louisiana
There's a lot of different opinions about the larger environmental impacts -- in many cases people don't really know what it will be long-term. But from a local standpoint there are definitely significant concerns communities are dealing with as far as water (including in desert areas like I wrote about in Arizona), wildlife, noise pollution, light pollution, and the fact that many data center developers know they won't get fast enough access to the grid so they are building their own behind the meter gas plants. I think it's just overwhelming local communities who don't know enough about it and have local officials that are often part-time.
Sharon, curious on your thoughts as to the environmental impacts of data centers, water, ecological impacts?
There's a lot of different opinions about the larger environmental impacts -- in many cases people don't really know what it will be long-term. But from a local standpoint there are definitely significant concerns communities are dealing with as far as water (including in desert areas like I wrote about in Arizona), wildlife, noise pollution, light pollution, and the fact that many data center developers know they won't get fast enough access to the grid so they are building their own behind the meter gas plants. I think it's just overwhelming local communities who don't know enough about it and have local officials that are often part-time.
Thanks for your reply Sharon. Would you kindly link to the Arizona/ water article?
Absolutely - here is a link that bypasses the paywall: https://fortune.com/2025/12/27/ai-data-centers-arizona-hassayampa-ranch/?sge456
Thank you! 🙏