Environmental advocate Julie Bolthouse highlights that Northern Virginia boasts the largest concentration of data centres in the world. This reality is far from exciting for her.
“We’re the Wall Street of the data centre industry,” says Ms. Bolthouse, director of the local charity Piedmont Environmental Council.
Data centres are immense facilities housing numerous computers that store and process data for websites, companies, and governments. Since the 1990s, Northern Virginia has become a hotspot for these centres, thanks to its proximity to Washington D.C. and historically low electricity costs.
Centered around the city of Ashburn, located 35 miles (56 km) west of D.C., Northern Virginia is home to over 477 data centres, leading the nation significantly. Texas follows with 290, and California has 283. Remarkably, studies indicate that approximately 70% of global internet traffic passes through Ashburn, earning it the nickname “Data Centre Alley”.
The surge in demand for data centres is largely driven by advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), which requires substantial computing power. According to a recent study by Moody’s, global data centre capacity is projected to double within the next five years.
Ms. Bolthouse and other environmentalists express concerns about the negative consequences of this expansion on their quality of life. Key issues include:
Residents in Virginia and Maryland are also facing higher electricity costs due to necessary upgrades for these facilities.
“We’re working directly on the ground… opposing each data centre application,” Ms. Bolthouse emphasizes.
Similar movements are emerging globally. In Ireland, where data centres account for 21% of electricity use, activists like Tony Lowes voice concerns about climate impact and reliance on fossil fuels.
Leading companies in this industry are attempting to address these worries. For instance, Microsoft has launched its Data Center Community Pledge, promising to source 100% renewable energy by next year and achieve water positivity by 2030.
While some countries have successfully influenced data centre designs to minimize environmental impact—such as Google changing its cooling systems in Uruguay—Ms. Bolthouse believes further efforts are necessary for sustainable practices.
“Electrical prices will skyrocket for everyone… that’s going to impact them,” she cautions about the long-term implications if changes aren’t made promptly.
Trump’s Tariff Plans: A Day-One Agenda Against Drug and Human Trafficking In a bold move to combat drug and human smuggling, President-elect Donald Trump has announced plans to impose significant tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China immediately after his inauguration on January 20.
Government Unveils “Get Britain Working” Initiative to Combat Unemployment In a bid to rejuvenate the UK job market, the government has introduced its ambitious “Get Britain Working” initiative, promising extensive reforms aimed at reducing the benefits bill and increasing employment.