Data centers strain communities, fueling debate over AI's environmental toll

Data centers in the eastern United States are becoming a significant source of strain on local communities and the environment. The constant hum of industrial air conditioners and the exhaust from backup diesel generators are exacerbating air quality issues, particularly during heatwaves when demand for electricity surges. This growing impact on residential areas is fueling intense debate surrounding the artificial intelligence industry and its rapidly expanding infrastructure.

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Heat is almost the worst situation for data center operations.

Across the U.S., data centers are facing mounting criticism for a range of environmental problems. Shaolei Ren, a professor at the University of California, Riverside, who studies AI's environmental impact, noted that extreme heat presents "almost the worst situation for data center operations." Servers generate substantial heat, requiring either energy-intensive air conditioning or water-cooling systems. To mitigate the risk of power outages, some data centers resort to backup diesel generators, which release harmful emissions.

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If the grid is under heavy load, grid operators will sometimes ask data centers to turn on their generators as a last line of defense.

While operators like Jeff Markley of Markley Group in Lowell, Massachusetts, state that generators are used sparingly, primarily during actual power failures or brief weekly tests, and that his facility uses a small fraction of the town's water, residents' concerns persist. Initially welcomed a decade ago, the expansion of a second cooling tank and increased surveillance at Markley's facility led to deteriorating relations with the community. In response to growing opposition, the Lowell City Council imposed a one-year moratorium on further data center expansion in February.

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Diesel exhaust is harmful to human health, and if too many diesel generators are turned on during heatwaves, it could be a disaster for local air quality.

Jonathan Koomey, a researcher studying data centers for 30 years, acknowledges the significant rise in U.S. data center electricity consumption. However, he characterizes this trend as "largely a local phenomenon," with overall national electricity demand growth remaining moderate. Despite this, the localized environmental and infrastructural pressures are undeniable, intensifying the debate over the true cost of the AI boom.

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The company has only activated generators in emergencies a few times, only during an actual power outage, to keep critical systems online, plus brief weekly testing of about five minutes per unit.