The AI data center boom is colliding with cities scarred by big industry
Philadelphia activists rally against AI data center construction amid energy and pollution concerns, joining a wave of U.S. city moratoriums.
Residents of Philadelphia's Grays Ferry, home to a former oil refinery, launched the 'No Data Centers in Philly' campaign over pollution, noise, and resource concerns. BloombergNEF projects U.S. data centers will consume more natural gas than Germany and Japan combined by 2035. New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed an executive order pausing permits for large data center projects, and moratoriums have passed in Denver, Indianapolis, Asheville, Charlotte, and Reno.
- Philadelphia identified two potential data center sites including Grays Ferry
- BloombergNEF projects U.S. data centers to out-consume Germany and Japan in gas by 2035
- New York, Denver, Indianapolis, Asheville, Charlotte, and Reno enacted moratoriums
- Activists cite diesel backup generators and grid strain as pollution risks
From the original article
4 min read at techcrunch.com
National outcry against data center construction has spread to Philadelphia, where officials suggested possible construction in a neighborhood already impacted by a now-defunct oil refinery.
By Amanda Silberling · techcrunch.com
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