Data Centers Are Growing Fast. What Does That Mean for Your Community?

Data centers are being built all across the United States at a very fast pace. These giant buildings store and process the information we use every day — from photos and online shopping to sports scores and streaming videos. Many communities are pushing back, saying they don't want these buildings near their homes. Experts say some fears are based on real problems, while others may not be as serious as people think.

The big reason for the current building boom is artificial intelligence, or AI. AI programs need huge amounts of computer power to learn and work, and data centers provide that power. Hannah Wiseman, a law professor at Penn State University, studies data centers and the rules around them. She says the rise of AI is clearly driving companies to build more of these facilities as fast as possible.

Even if you've never seen a data center, you use one every day. 'We need them for everything from cloud computing, storing all of our photos and files in the cloud, to online purchases to sports betting,' Professor Wiseman said. All of your digital activity — every search, every video, every download — runs through a data center somewhere. That means these buildings are a key part of modern life, even if most people never think about them.

One of the biggest worries for local residents is money. Data centers use enormous amounts of electricity, and building new power lines and equipment to supply them costs a lot. 'Anyone in that utility's service territory can see higher bills if the utility has to spend money to build and operate new infrastructure for the data center,' Wiseman explained. Those extra costs can be spread out among all customers in the area, meaning everyone's electric bill could go up — even people who don't live near the data center.

Data centers also use a large amount of water to keep their computer systems cool. On top of that, they can be very loud. Professor Wiseman says the noise from a data center can reach about 90 decibels. That is roughly as loud as heavy city traffic or a jackhammer. Controlling that noise is one of the key challenges that builders must deal with before a community will accept a new data center.

There is also a trust problem between developers and local communities. Often, a wealthy company from another city or state comes in and wants to build quickly on land near someone's neighborhood. Residents feel they don't know the company and aren't sure they can trust its promises. Professor Wiseman says slowing down to have real conversations and make firm commitments is the right move, because trust can only be built over time through honest talks and clear agreements.

Laws and rules about data centers have not kept up with how fast the industry is growing. This is common when a new technology expands quickly — the rules come later. Professor Wiseman points to a policy introduced by Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro as a good example of what governments should do. His plan would make sure data centers pay for their own costs instead of passing them on to regular people. Wiseman says this kind of policy is smart, fair, and part of a growing trend across the country.