National Petition Against Hyperscale Data Centers
The Petition from Change.org:
We the people of the United States unequivocally oppose the construction of large-scale and “hyperscale” data centers (defined as all facilities surpassing 100 megawatts of power capacity and 10,000 square feet in area) on American Soil regardless of their intended purposes. The toll that these facilities will take on the health of human and non-human life forms, the environment, energy sources, and water sources far outweigh any potential benefits that they could possibly have on our quality of life, technological advancement, or the national economy.
Specific problems that large-scale data centers present:
• They use massive amounts of energy which drains the power grids, causing an increase in utility rates for many people.
• They require a high level of water usage for cooling, often in water-scarce areas.
• The wastewater that the produce is highly contaminated and pollutes local water sources and aquatic ecosystems as runoff.
• High levels of EMF radiation cause harm to all biological life forms around them - plants, animals, and people.
• They cause a significant rise in surface temperatures ranging from 3°F to 16°F. Temperature increases are detectable up to 6 miles from each site.
• They create noise pollution from large cooling fans.
• They create light pollution from all-night lighting.
• Harmful levels of air pollution are produced by their diesel-run backup generators in power emergencies.
We demand a national moratorium on the construction of new hyperscale data centers within the United States of America until each one of these concerns can be addressed through long-term environmental studies, long-term health studies, long-term economic impact studies, and/or exploring alternate solutions.
If these concerns cannot be addressed adequately, then we demand the cessation of planning, construction, and operation of all large-scale data centers regardless of their stage of development.
Just reading the petition here isn’t enough… We need your signature on Change.org! Please note that you must either verify your email address OR log into a Change.org account for your signature to count towards the total. Let us Unite against the unsustainable agendas of large-scale data centers and advocate for a future that prioritizes our environment, our health, and an even distribution of resources which will enhance our quality of life.
