Data centres, the vast warehouse-like facilities powering internet services and artificial intelligence systems, are facing growing public opposition across multiple countries due to concerns about their environmental impact, energy consumption and local disruption.
The world has approximately 12,250 data centres, up sharply from around 8,000 operational sites in 2021, according to Data Center Map. The US hosts 4,767 of these facilities, followed by Europe, with the UK and Germany leading the continent. The largest operational data centre is run by China Telecom in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, covering approximately one million square metres, equivalent to about 140 football pitches. Much larger sites are under construction globally, including Elon Musk's xAI Colossus 2, which will house hundreds of thousands of advanced Nvidia AI chips.
Data centres collectively consume more electricity than all of France, according to analysis cited in the source material. This consumption drives up carbon emissions and strains local electrical grids, potentially pushing up energy prices. The facilities also require significant amounts of water for cooling systems, raising concerns about local water shortages. Colossus 2 will use 41 methane gas turbines to help power operations. Local regulators say these turbines will meet air quality standards, though activists argue they could "significantly increase" local air pollution.
Opposition has intensified in the US, where 16 states have proposed laws to ban or temporarily block new facilities ahead of the November midterm elections. Both Republicans and Democrats have come out against data centre development. President Donald Trump has dismissed the pushback as a "sick conspiracy," even as public anger grows. Outside the US, opposition has emerged in Mexico, France, Indonesia and the UK.
Supporters counter that data centres are critical for national security and AI development. A report by the Brookings Center found that data centres do create local jobs, particularly hyperscale facilities owned by tech giants like Amazon and Microsoft. Colocation facilities, which lease space to remote tenants, brought fewer local benefits. The tech industry is expected to spend $765 billion on AI infrastructure in 2026, with spending topping $1 trillion the following year.
The industry is exploring alternatives, including placing data centres in space or on the Moon to harness solar energy, and increasing AI processing on devices already in computers and smartphones.