On November 18, 2024, the Prince George's County Sierra Club hosted a pivotal virtual meeting titled “EJ and You: Balancing Justice and Data Center Development.” Moderated by environmental advocate Nicole Jackson, Principal with Monarch PSG, the discussion featured three expert speakers: Dave Arendt of the Maryland Legislative Coalition’s Climate Justice Wing, Kyle Hart from the National Parks Conservation Association, and Paige Wesselink of the Sierra Club Virginia Chapter. Together, they explored the environmental, social, and economic impacts of the rapidly expanding data center industry and its implications for environmental justice (EJ) communities.
The Hidden Costs of Data Centers
The meeting painted a sobering picture of the hidden costs associated with data center development, particularly the growing demand for energy, water, and land resources. While these facilities are essential to modern digital infrastructure, their unchecked expansion poses significant challenges:
Energy Consumption and Climate Change:
Data centers are notoriously energy-intensive, and the growing demand has forced jurisdictions like Virginia to delay climate goals. Fossil fuel reliance, spurred by new power plants, exacerbates air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Backup diesel generators, a staple of data centers, release toxic pollutants like PM 2.5 and benzene, disproportionately harming communities near these facilities.
Strain on Water Resources:
Data centers require vast amounts of water for cooling, risking depletion of local supplies and aquatic ecosystem disruption. The lack of regional planning to address cumulative water use poses a critical threat to sustainability.
Economic Inequities:
Tax breaks and discounted electricity rates for data centers shift the financial burden to residents, driving up utility costs. These impacts are especially harsh on low-income households, with some families in Virginia reportedly forced to choose between basic needs and electricity bills.
Environmental Justice Concerns:
Often located in historically marginalized EJ communities, data centers bring disproportionate environmental and economic harm while limiting these communities' voices in decision-making processes. For example, in Virginia, Microsoft developed data centers on land owned by Black farmers who lacked transparency about the project’s long-term impacts.
A Call for Change
The speakers called for a multifaceted approach to ensure that data center development aligns with environmental and social justice principles. Key recommendations included:
Stronger Regulations:
Advocate for mandatory environmental impact assessments, clean energy requirements, and equitable infrastructure contributions from data center developers.
Pollution Reduction:
Replace diesel generators with on-site battery storage and promote clean energy alternatives.
Community Empowerment:
Ensure public participation in planning processes and provide full transparency in data center agreements, including energy usage and environmental impacts.
Learning from Experience:
Maryland should draw lessons from Virginia’s struggles with data center proliferation, emphasizing proactive, community-centered policies to prevent similar outcomes.
Promoting Environmental Justice:
Avoid sitting data centers in EJ communities and ensure host communities receive fair tax contributions and economic benefits.
Collective Action: A Path Forward
The discussion highlighted the power of community advocacy. A notable example was the recent postponement of Prince George’s County’s CB-52-2024, a bill proposing to eliminate the Preliminary Plan of Subdivision requirement for data centers. Thanks to collective efforts, including hundreds of public letters and compelling community testimonies, on November 19th, the Prince George’s County Council chose to delay the vote, demonstrating the tangible impact of informed civic engagement.
Shaping a Sustainable Future
Nicole Jackson closed the meeting with an urgent call to action:
Engage with Local Leaders: Advocate for stronger, equitable regulations.
Participate in Public Processes: Attend hearings and provide input on data center proposals.
Stay Informed: Research the impacts of data centers, particularly AI-driven facilities with heightened energy and resource demands.
Support Advocacy Groups: Align with organizations championing environmental justice and responsible development.
As data centers continue to expand, Prince George’s County faces a critical juncture. Striking a balance between technological progress and environmental sustainability is not only necessary but possible—through robust policies, transparent practices, and inclusive community engagement.
By learning from the challenges of neighboring jurisdictions, Prince George’s County can lead the way in developing data centers that support both economic growth and environmental equity. The time to act is now, ensuring that no community is left behind in the digital age.
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Prince George's County Council hearing on CB-052-2024.
Speaker Presentations
Dave Arndt - Data Center Basics
Kyle Hart - Environmental Impacts of Data Centers
Paige Wesselink - Regulating Data Centers
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