The Harms and Impacts of PA’s New Data Center Hype

Across the state, we have been hearing about up and coming proposals for new data centers and additional oil & gas infrastructure related to powering these projects. Both tech and petrochemical industries claim that the growing need for data centers to power AI will create an economic "boom" for states that jump at the opportunity.

At the state level, Pennsylvania has enthusiastically embraced data centers. Governor Shapiro conducted a session called “Bolting Into Action” on March 12^th, to discuss data centers with no public input. Then, on June 9^th, Shapiro announced a deal with Amazon and plans to invest $20 Billion in PA for AI Infrastructure. On July 15th, Trump and McCormick announced an additional $90 billion in energy and AI investments at a summit they held in Pittsburgh. 

The technology behind AI is evolving quickly, but while the US is ramping up on data, China’s data boom has already gone bust. Facilities that cost billions of dollars now sit underused, returns are falling, and the market for graphics card (GPU) rentals has collapsed. Many data centers became outdated before they were even fully operational as market conditions have changed.

Not only are the economics of constructing and operating these data centers based on shaky numbers, but the promises companies are making about the jobs are equally speculative.

As part of PA’s Computer Data Center Equipment Exemption Program, the state allows companies that meet investment and job creation requirements to avoid paying sales and use tax on computer data center equipment. In counties with a population less than 250,000, companies must invest $75 million and create just 25 jobs; in counties with a population greater than 250,000, they must invest $100 million and create 45 jobs. There is no requirement that the jobs must be permanent or go to local community members.

An industry-written article noted that “the communities most vocal about opposition to more data centers appear to be ones where people already know what living close to data centers is like,” citing the small number of jobs they create as one reason. “There’s not an easy solution on this front given that most data centers require few employees, and increasing data center automation will shrink workforces even further.”

This increase in data center demand is not due to the everyday uses that benefit our communities. AI is poised to drive 160% increase in data center power demand, with the majority of this demand for crypto currency mining, advertisement tracking, surveillance, and for AI generated content based on copyright infringement. “In order to meet this demand, energy operators are proposing unprecedented build-outs of energy infrastructure, including preserving and expanding fossil fuel generation.”  None of the extra demands on energy are for making our internet faster or for use by the general public.

At PSR PA we have been looking into potential health and environmental harms as a result of data center buildout in Pennsylvania. 

The direct impacts from operation of data centers are mainly noise pollution and heavy water usage.

Noise pollution affects those who work at data centers with decibel levels that can damage hearing after only a half hour. People who live nearby report “headaches, stress, and sleep disturbance.” Wildlife can also be affected, sometimes “forcing them to seek new migration patterns.”

Data centers need potable water to operate, with less than 5% of data center total water supply from alternative sources. The type of water can have impacts on equipment's lifespan, which is why drinking water is a preferred source. It is primarily used for equipment such as Cooling Towers, Chillers, Pumps, Pipes, Heat Exchangers, Condensers, and Computer Room Air Handler Units which cool the center’s operations. A single AI generated email uses more than a bottle of water.

The intense energy usage of data centers, especially when built in states like Pennsylvania that are primarily powered by oil and gas, lead to significant indirect impacts to health and the environment as well. 

We know fracking harms human health; with impacts that include prenatal harm, respiratory impacts, cancer, heart disease, mental health complications, and premature death. Pennsylvania is powered by fracked gas, and several of the proposed data centers in the state are planning dedicated gas-fired power plants or are connecting to the grid at the source near a major gas power plant.

A recently demolished coal-fired power plant in Homer City is now planned to become the site of a data center powered by the largest proposed gas-fired power plant in the country. It is slated to be a 4.5 GW natural gas power plant, more than twice the capacity that the former coal plant once generated.

We are at risk of cumulative pollution from both fracking production and gas burning from power generation; with pollutants such as Particulate Matter, Sulfur Oxides, Volatile Organic Compounds, Benzene, Lead, and Hexavalent Chromium contaminating our air and water.

Our state ranks 48^th in renewable energy growth. The tons of air pollutants produced by data centers’ energy usage will worsen the climate crisis and increase heat and climate related health impacts in our communities as well.

These projects are moving quickly with little or no access to public input. 

“’Data center expansions often happen behind closed doors, with local governments signing NDAs with tech firms, limiting public knowledge of energy and water use,’ says Helena Volzer of the nonprofit Alliance for the Great Lakes.”

We can take action by pushing for zoning ordinances in our communities that protect us from data center buildouts. You can submit language on noise limits, water restrictions, and air emissions requirements to be adopted by your municipality as well as zoning restrictions on where facilities like data centers can be built. Encourage your local elected officials to publicly oppose buildouts, and protect the health of their constituents. File a Right-to-Know request in your community to get clarity on what projects may be proposed for your area. Take a look online to see if there are local concerned community groups that you are able to join. We have the right to stand up and say no to public health harms like data center and powerplant buildout.