In brief
Data centres have proliferated in Northern Virginia, making it a hotspot for digital infrastructure, but local activists are raising alarms about sustainability and resource use. As demand for data storage soars, groups like the Piedmont Environmental Council urge for more responsible approaches to development.
The expansion of data centres in Northern Virginia has sparked concern among local environmentalists, including Julie Bolthouse, who leads the Piedmont Environmental Council. Known as the "Wall Street of the data centre industry," the region has become home to the world's greatest concentration of these facilities, with more than 477 operational data centres. Bolthouse fears the repercussions of this growth, particularly the implications for the environment and quality of life.Since the 1990s, Northern Virginia has been an attractive location for data centres, thanks to its closeness to Washington D.C., along with historically affordable electricity and land. Centered in Ashburn, 35 miles west of the U.S. capital, the area is known as “Data Centre Alley,” with some studies suggesting that around 70% of the world’s internet traffic passes through here.Fueled by the AI boom which necessitates greater computing power, the demand for data centres is surging. A recent report by Moody's predicts that global data centre capacity will double in the next five years. Bolthouse and like-minded activists are apprehensive about this expansion, citing detrimental factors such as new electricity lines over conservation lands, increased water consumption, and the air quality issues posed by diesel generators.They are lobbying against individual data centre applications while educating local officials about these ongoing issues: "We’re working directly on the ground... trying to educate our local planning commission and supervisors about the issues we see," Bolthouse says.Similar movements are gaining traction in countries like Ireland, where data centres consume a staggering 21% of the nation’s electricity. Local groups like Friends of the Irish Environment express concerns over how such facilities undermine sustainability efforts and strain the electrical grid while relying on fossil fuels.In response to the growing protests, major data centre operators like Microsoft and Amazon are trying to showcase their commitment to sustainability. Microsoft has launched its Data Center Community Pledge, promising to use 100% renewable energy and achieve "water positive" status by 2030, while AWS utilizes recycled water for cooling in several facilities.As environmental advocacy against data centres grows globally, including successful protests in Uruguay and Chile, Bolthouse insists the industry must elevate its sustainability measures. "If we continue with business as usual... electrical prices are going to skyrocket for everybody, including the data centre industry," she warns. She remains hopeful but acknowledges that substantial progress will take time.
