From Georgia to Oregon, New England to New Mexico, data center projects are drawing opposition in local government hearings by residents concerned about the voracious demand for electricity, water consumption, and noise. Critics also argue that data centers don’t produce the jobs other land uses generate.

In Texas, people in small towns question data center development in the broader context of rapid rural industrialization.

With hundreds of projects before local planners, nondisclosure pacts and tax incentives are spurring suspicion among local residents.{ai:summary}<p>Data center projects across the U.S. face opposition from local residents due to concerns over high electricity demand, water usage, and noise pollution. Critics argue these facilities do not create as many jobs as alternative land uses.</p><p>In Texas, small-town residents are particularly wary, viewing data center development as part of a larger trend of rapid industrialization in rural areas. #society</p>

Big Data Centers Are Booming, but Secret Deals Draw Local Opposition

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