Erin Brockovich Maps AI Data Centers Amid Community Worries

Erin Brockovich's new map shows 3,674 AI data center locations. Texas has the most reported concerns, with Sulphur Springs reporting 297.
By Newsroom | Technology, Environment |

Erin Brockovich, known for her high-profile environmental activism, has launched a crowdsourced map to document AI data center locations and community concerns nationwide. The initiative, housed on the website 'Brockovich AI Data Center Reporting', aims to aggregate reports from the public regarding these rapidly expanding facilities.

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The interactive map currently displays 3,674 reported data center locations, encompassing existing, under-construction, and proposed projects. Most of the submissions to date originate from Texas, with Sulphur Springs, Texas, reportedly showing the highest number of reported concerns at 297.

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Communities Voice Worries Over AI Infrastructure

Brockovich's project surfaces as communities increasingly grapple with the impacts of data centers. Reported concerns predominantly focus on the centers' substantial energy demands, their potential to strain local water supplies (cited by 41.2% of respondents), and their effect on electric grids (22.2%) and overall community health (18.1%).

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The website notes instances where communities have pushed back against data center development. It highlights 15 local moratoria or pauses on data center projects and six zoning or permit denials. This pushback occurs against a backdrop of varied governmental approaches, with some states advocating for increased regulation and transparency while federal initiatives, such as under the Trump administration, have largely adopted a less interventionist stance on AI regulation.

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A New Front in Environmental Advocacy

Brockovich's foray into tracking AI data centers marks a significant expansion of her advocacy work, which gained national attention following her role in exposing groundwater contamination in Hinkley, California, in the early 1990s. Her past efforts led to a major legal case against Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) concerning polluted water supplies.

The current map aggregates publicly announced, major AI-focused and hyperscale data centers, excluding smaller facilities. This initiative seeks to provide a centralized platform for communities to voice and document their experiences with the growing AI infrastructure. The chosen locations for these centers are often driven by factors like the availability of large, inexpensive land parcels and existing infrastructure, particularly in areas that were previously industrial sites.

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Other locations with a notable number of reported data centers include Lusby, Maryland (36), Box Elder County, Utah (31), and Archbald, Pennsylvania (30). The concerns logged on the map often relate to issues such as the water intensity of cooling systems, with discussions around water reuse technologies, like liquid cooling, gaining traction in areas with limited water availability.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is Erin Brockovich's new project about?
Erin Brockovich has started a crowdsourced map to track AI data center locations and the concerns communities have about them across the USA. The map shows 3,674 reported sites.
Q: What are the main worries people have about AI data centers?
The biggest concerns are the large amounts of energy data centers use, their impact on local water supplies, and how they affect electric grids and community health.
Q: Which areas have the most reported data center concerns?
Texas has the most reported data center locations and concerns. Sulphur Springs, Texas, has the highest number of reported worries, with 297.
Q: Have communities tried to stop data center projects?
Yes, communities have shown pushback. The map shows 15 local pauses on projects and 6 times zoning or permits were denied.
Q: Why are data centers being built in certain places?
Data centers are often built in places with large, cheap land and existing infrastructure. Many are located on former industrial sites.