Erin Brockovich Takes on Data Centers
Since a famous case against a California utility, the name Erin Brockovich has become synonymous with a fighter taking on big polluters. Earlier this year, Brockovich began receiving e-mails from people worried about the construction of A.I. data centers, which is happening at a frenetic rate all over the country. People expressed concerns about the loss of farmland and natural areas; disruptions to the water table; deleterious noise; and substantial usage of electricity and water, leading to rising utility bills. She speaks with David Remnick about her mapping project to document data-center construction and environmental complaints. “In my thirty years,” she tells Remnick, “I’ve never really seen the people show up like they are at a very local level.”
Further reading:
- “A.I. Is Now a Major Election Issue,” by Benjamin Wallace-Wells
- “Inside the Data Centers That Train A.I. and Drain the Electrical Grid,” by Stephen Witt
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