Data centers are being fast-tracked at the federal level despite documented human health and environmental effects. Hyperscale data centers are enormous industrial- facilities that can span hundreds of acres and contain hundreds of thousands to millions of servers. They require massive amounts of electricity, water, cooling infrastructure, transmission lines, diesel generators, and industrial equipment.
The Key Environmental and Health Risks of Data Centers
Air Pollution
MIT reports estimate 60% of the increased electricity demands from data centers will be met by burning fossil fuels. In addition, data centers rely on dozens of diesel generators that emit particulate matter, nitrogen oxides (NOₓ), and other pollutants linked to asthma, heart disease, and premature death. Research by Virginia Commonwealth University found data center air pollution in Northern Virginia has risen sharply as the number of facilities has grown.
A report by Caltech and University of California Riverside estimates data center air pollution will contribute to 1,300 premature deaths every year in the U.S. by 2030, disproportionately affecting certain low-income communities.
Energy Demand and Grid Strain
AI data centers require enormous amounts of electricity, driving electrical grid expansion (new substations and transmission lines) that’s often paid for by residents, not the data center companies.
EMF Exposure
The new electrical infrastructure, including substations, transmission lines, and wireless systems, can increase exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs) linked to cancer, miscarriage, Alzheimer’s and other health impacts. Further, cell tower antennas can be added to infrastructure once they are built, adding overlapping exposures.
Forever Chemical PFAS Contamination
Data centers host tens of thousands of servers that run 24/7 and they require semiconductors, cooling systems, water treatment chemicals and fire suppressants – all sources of PFAS forever chemicals. PFAS are persistent environmental pollutants linked to cancer, immune dysfunction, reproductive harm, and other serious health effects. The Environmental and Energy Study Institute reports that data centers are driving expanded PFAS material manufacturing that has already been linked to widespread drinking water contamination.
Noise Pollution
The industrial machines produce continuous low-frequency noise, vibration and ultrasonic noise that disrupts sleep, increases stress, and impacts health in nearby communities.These frequencies can propagate long distances and may be experienced even when conventional noise limits appear to be met.
Water Availability & Quality
Large data centers consume millions of gallons of water for cooling, placing strain on local water supplies while discharging heated wastewater back into rivers and waterways. This wastewater can contain chemicals used for cooling, corrosion control, and microbial prevention, while elevated temperatures may further concentrate existing contaminants and worsen water contamination issues already affecting communities.
For example, an Amazon Data center in Oregon, agreed to a $20.5 million class-action settlement following allegations that its server-cooling process concentrated nitrate-laden wastewater, contaminating local wells and causing health issues including miscarriages, kidney failures, and cancers.
Water demand associated with data centers is projected to rise dramatically, with some estimates projecting annual increases of up to 400% for electricity-related water use and more than 870% for direct cooling operations. In some areas, intensive groundwater extraction may also lower water tables and degrade the quality of local wells by increasing sediment and contaminant concentrations.
Thermal Pollution
Data centers generate enormous amounts of heat from continuously operating servers and cooling systems. This heat can warm surrounding neighborhoods, contribute to urban heat island effects, raise local temperatures, and increase energy demand for nearby residents. Reports estimate land surface temperature increases by 2°C on average after the start of operations of an AI data centre, inducing local microclimate zones, celled the data heat island effect.
Facilities that discharge heated water can also harm aquatic ecosystems by reducing oxygen levels and stressing fish and wildlife.
Herbicide Spraying
Utilities commonly use herbicides, including glyphosate, to maintain access for trucks and heavy equipment. Yet there is limited public reporting, transparency, or oversight regarding the amount sprayed, frequency of application, and assessment of the contamination of nearby streams, wetlands, forests, wildlife habitat.
E-Waste
The large volume of batteries, electronics, solvents, refrigerants, heavy metals and computer equipment creates massive amounts of hazardous e-waste. AI related e-waste streams could increase total accumulation by 1.2–5.0 million tons during 2020–2030.
Land Industrialization
Hyperscale data center campuses and transmission corridors are transforming residential, agricultural, and rural landscapes into industrialized utility zones.
Land Seizure and Community Displacement
In numerous cases nationwide, utilities and developers are using eminent domain and other government authorities to seize land for AI-related infrastructure, including data centers and new or expanded high-voltage transmission corridors. Many affected property owners argue they are not being offered fair market compensation for land, homes and farms taken for these projects.
Impermeable Development Increases Flooding Risk
Large-scale data center construction makes land more impermeable (replacing natural ground that absorbs rainfall with buildings), increasing stormwater runoff and potentially increasing flooding for nearby residents during heavy storms.
Data Center Infrastructure Can Contribute to Endocrine Disruption
Data centers and the electrical infrastructure that supports them can contribute to endocrine disruption through the increased exposure to industrial chemicals, pollutants, and electromagnetic fields (EMFs) that may contaminate air, water, soil, and food systems.
PFAS “forever chemicals,” diesel exhaust, flame retardants, solvents, plasticizers, herbicides such as glyphosate, and chemicals used in cooling systems and water treatment as well as EMFs have all been associated in scientific literature with hormone disruption, reproductive harm, thyroid dysfunction, developmental impacts, infertility, and increased cancer risk.
The Federal Push to Fast-Track Data Centers & AI Infrastructure
Federal policy is accelerating the development of data centers and other AI infrastructure, including wireless networks. Recent executive actions and agency initiatives are working to streamline permitting for data centers, along with the chemical manufacturing, energy generation, and transmission expansion needed to support these facilities.
- The White House AI Action Plan: Directs federal agencies to revise, or repeal regulations and policies that “unnecessarily hinder” AI development, deployment, telecommunications infrastructure, and data center expansion. LINK
- Executive Order: Accelerating Federal Permitting of Data Center Infrastructure: Seeks to fast-track federal approvals for data centers, energy projects, transmission infrastructure, and related construction needed to support AI growth-including coolants, semiconductors, and fire suppressants. LINK
- EPA to Fast-Track Review of AI Data Center Chemicals: The EPA announced it will streamline reviews of new chemicals that support AI data centers, aiming to reduce regulatory delays. LINK
- Electric Grid Declared Critical to National Defense: Designates electric grid infrastructure as essential to national security, enabling emergency federal authority to accelerate energy and transmission projects. LINK
The Federal Push to Override Local Control For Cell Towers is Directly Tied to AI and 6G
The rapid expansion of AI and data centers is being used to justify a sweeping buildout of new cell tower and wireless network infrastructure across the country by limiting local and state authority over permitting and oversight. Telecom states they are preparing for 6G, the next generation of wireless networks to be deployed in the 2030’s, in order to integrate AI directly into wireless infrastructure. 6G is being presented by industry as foundational architecture for data centers and AI-driven smart cities, autonomous vehicles, robotics, surveillance systems, and new machine-to-machine communications.
Industry and federal policymakers are framing the need for deregulation and pre-emption for cell towers as essential to maintaining U.S. leadership in AI. A letter sent by major U.S. telecom and wireless associations supporting Congressional bill H.R. 2289, which would fast track cell towers, states that the bill’s measures were ‘urgent because it directly supports America’s position in the global AI race.
CTIA, the leading lobbying association for the U.S. wireless telecommunications sector, just released a report and hosted a conference entitled ‘AI and Wireless’ where top telecom executives and policymakers emphasized that AI growth and data centers depend on unprecedented increases in cell towers, wireless network and fiber infrastructure.
While Congressional House Bill H.R. 2289 was stalled, the FCC, with just three unelected commissioners, is poised to move forward on a proposed rulemaking that would fulfil the telecom industry’s long-standing wish list by preempting local governments’ control over cell towers, wireless infrastructure, and the fiber optic buildouts.
- FCC NPRM 25-276: “Build America: Eliminating Barriers to Wireless Deployments,” would significantly pre-empt local town, city, county, and state authority over cell towers, 4G and 5G small cells, and other wireless infrastructure deployment. LINK
- FCC 25-253 NOI: “Build America: Eliminating Barriers to Wireline Deployments” would accelerate fiber and broadband construction by restricting municipal permitting authority, fees, and review timelines. LINK
The FCC’s 25-276 explicitly asks about overriding state and local level AI regulations, if local rules prohibit or have the effect of prohibiting wireless services and providers’ ability to use AI tools, further linking AI policy to federal preemption of local authority over telecommunications infrastructure.
If the FCC moves forward with these proposals, state and local governments could see their ability to establish common-sense safeguards for both AI systems and cell tower wireless infrastructure significantly restricted.
What You Can Do
Communities across the country are beginning to organize around the rapid expansion of hyperscale data centers and the electrical infrastructure. Raising awareness early and advocating for local safeguards today is essential.
Key Actions Communities Can Take on Data Centers
- Educate Your Community: Share information about the environmental, health, energy, and water impacts of data centers with your community and elected officials.
- Get Organized: Communities need a reliable method of communication to keep people informed. You can start a petition, listserv, or group chat, and host meetings at your local library to organize community action.
- Advocate for a Moratorium: Many communities are implementing temporary moratoriums on new data center development to ensure that adequate safeguards (ordinances and zoning protections) are in place before large-scale projects move forward.
- Advocate for Local Ordinances and Zoning Protections: Local governments should adopt ordinances that establish setbacks, noise and vibration limits, restrictions on diesel generators and emissions, water protections and more.
- Demand Full Transparency: Request reviews with reporting for:
- Air pollution
- Water consumption
- Thermal pollution
- Noise levels
- Energy demands
- EMF exposure
- Transmission and grid expansion plans
- Tax incentives and public subsidies
- Chemical use and waste streams
- Backup generator operations
- E-Waste management
Communities have the right to demand that technological development does not come at the expense of public health, environmental protection and affordable energy.
How To Communicate on the FCC Proposals
While the official comment periods for the FCC proposals have closed, local governments can still take critical action by submitting ex parte letters to the FCC, providing expert testimony and technical evidence, and passing resolutions opposing federal preemption while calling for the preservation of local authority over telecommunications and AI-related infrastructure decisions.
We Are Moving on This Issue
Environmental Health Sciences is now developing new knowledge resources, public awareness materials and policymaker resources on data centers, AI, EMF, and endocrine disruption. Contact us for presentations and questions.
Stay tuned as we continue expanding this critical work.