Environmentalists Combat Data Centre Expansion Amid Growing Concerns

Julie Bolthouse, an environmental campaigner, leads efforts against the expansion of data centres in Northern Virginia, raising alarms about their detrimental effects on the environment and local resources. As similar movements emerge globally, stakeholders push for sustainable practices in the rapidly growing data sector.

Environmental campaigner Julie Bolthouse is at the forefront of efforts to halt the expansion of data centres in Northern Virginia, home to the largest concentration of such facilities in the world. "We’re the Wall Street of the data centre industry," states Ms Bolthouse, who leads the Piedmont Environmental Council. With over 477 data centres in Virginia alone, and Ashburn, located just west of Washington D.C., being dubbed “Data Centre Alley,” the region has become a focal point for data storage and processing.

As demand for data centres surges—expected to double in capacity in the next five years due to the rise of artificial intelligence—Mr Bolthouse and her fellow activists express increasing concern about the environmental consequences. They argue that expansion is affecting air quality, increasing water demand, and necessitating new electricity infrastructure that disrupts local conservation efforts. In addition, residents of Virginia are shouldering the burden of costs associated with electricity upgrades required by these facilities.

The situation is not unique to Northern Virginia. Across the globe, campaigns are emerging against data centres. In Ireland, where such facilities consume over 21% of the nation's electricity, activists like Tony Lowes from Friends of the Irish Environment point to the potential negative impacts on climate and local resources, as well as the strain on electricity grids.

In response to mounting criticism, major players in the data centre industry, including Microsoft and Amazon Web Services, are pledging to adopt sustainable practices. Microsoft promises to procure 100% renewable energy by 2024 while AWS claims it will implement recycled water cooling in its facilities. Industry representatives assert that these efforts are pivotal in addressing energy efficiency and sustainability.

Campaigns against data centres have extended to South America as well, where proponents in Uruguay successfully pressured Google to modify its construction plans to use air instead of water for cooling amidst drought concerns. Similarly, in Chile, Google has halted data centre plans over similar issues.

Back in Virginia, Ms Bolthouse remains hopeful for progress, emphasizing that the data centre industry's long-term viability depends on its ability to mitigate its environmental footprint. “If we continue with business as usual, electrical prices will skyrocket, impacting the industry,” she warns, advocating for thoughtful planning and sustainable practices in this rapidly advancing sector.