Erin Brockovich takes aim at the rapid growth of AI data centers with a new project
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Erin Brockovich, a prominent consumer advocate and environmental activist, is now setting her sights on AI data centers with a new website showing their growth across the US and asking citizens to report their concerns.
Brockovich's efforts to build a lawsuit against Pacific Gas & Electric Company over groundwater contamination in Hinkley, Calif., inspired the 2000s. Erin Brockovichan Oscar-winning film starring Julia Roberts, and resulted in one of the largest class settlements in US history.
His latest project, Brockovich AI Data Center Reporting, profiles the largest AI data centers in the US that are in operation or under construction while also providing links to news coverage of various projects across the country and what other communities are grappling with.
The site also has a form where people can post information about their experiences in their communities where data centers have been built, are under construction or are proposed.
In a Substack post about the project, Brockovich said that while he's not entirely against AI data centers, communities across the country have expressed concerns about the impact on environments and the lack of communication with developers.
“Some communities have adopted these institutions after real public engagement, honest disclosure of impacts, and real discussion of public benefits. When that happens, that's democracy working the way it should,” he wrote.
“What's unacceptable is the pattern of our map documents: projects announced after permits are already secured, developers not taking calls, local officials signing NDAs before neighbors know a project is being considered.”
Growing pushback
Since launching the site on April 27, Brockovich says they've received more than 3,800 reports from people expressing concerns about data centers.
“They watch their utility bills rise, find sick animals they can't explain, and worry about the long-term effects on their health and property. These complaints are not small. They reflect a national pattern,” he wrote.
“When you hear about the news of one community here or there, it looks bad. But when you bring these communities together, you see a bigger picture.”
Brockovich's project comes amid growing opposition to AI data centers in North America, particularly in the United States.
An AI data center is coming to Canada and cooling the technology will require large amounts of fresh water. Nationally, the CBC's Jonathan Montpetit dives into the use and exposes a bad business with little oversight.
Last month, a data center planned to be built in Box Elder County, Utah, and backed by prominent Canadian investor Kevin O'Leary, made national headlines after facing strong opposition from some residents. They pushed for the future of the project to be voted on – although their effort ultimately failed.
Other planned AI data centers have faced backlash in Canada, too.
Hundreds of people marched in Vancouver at the end of May to protest two planned AI data centers in the city.
In Olds, Alta., a local group of residents went put together halting a proposed data center to be built in a town of about 10,000 residents due to concerns about potential health impacts, noise pollution and emissions.
