Environmental advocate Erin Brockovich is drawing attention to the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence data centers across the United States, emphasizing a lack of transparency and community involvement in these developments. Brockovich, known for her work on groundwater contamination in Hinkley, California, has received thousands of reports from residents concerned about large-scale data center projects in their neighborhoods.

Community Concerns

Brockovich notes that the primary concern among residents is the lack of transparency. Many feel excluded from decision-making processes, describing their experiences with terms like “silenced” and “ignored.” In response, Brockovich launched a website for community members to report concerns and view submissions nationwide. Within a month, nearly 4,000 reports were submitted, highlighting issues such as water use, electricity consumption, and noise.

Local and National Developments

Among the projects cited by Brockovich is Meta’s planned Hyperion campus in northeast Louisiana, which aims to boost the region’s tech sector. Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry praised the project for creating high-paying jobs and revitalizing rural areas. Other major developments include Google’s campus in West Memphis, Arkansas, and Microsoft’s investments in Wisconsin.

While supporters of data center development point to economic benefits like construction activity and job creation, Brockovich argues that residents should be informed before key decisions are finalized. She highlights cases where community opposition has influenced local policy, such as in Monroe Township, New Jersey, where ordinances banning data centers were approved after public objections.

Calls for Transparency

Brockovich stresses the importance of transparency and public engagement in discussions about future data center projects. She advocates for notifying residents before decisions are made, allowing them a meaningful role in the process. Companies like Microsoft have begun adjusting their approach, no longer requiring nondisclosure agreements during early development stages to foster public trust and dialogue.

As AI infrastructure continues to grow, Brockovich’s call for transparency and community involvement remains central to the debate over data center projects across the nation.

Original reporting: The Dallas Express — read the source article.