How data centres disrupt the lives of local communities

Every internet search, streamed video and AI-generated response depends on a data centre somewhere. Driven by rapid growth in artificial intelligence, cloud computing and cryptocurrency, data centres have become the backbone of the modern digital economy. But though their key role is in enabling virtual and remote experiences, data centres are physical buildings in real communities around the nation and the globe.

The United States hosts more than 4,000 data centres – more than any other country. The US Department of Energy expects that, taken together, all US data centres will consume as much as 12% of all US electricity by 2028. In 2023, data centres consumed about 4.4% of total U.S. electricity – roughly 176 terawatt-hours.

In the US, Virginia has more data centres than any other state – over 600, two-thirds of which are in the northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, DC. In 2023, the state’s data centres consumed about 26% of Virginia’s total electricity supply – a higher share than in any other state.

We study science communication, climate science and public health, so we wanted to understand how data centres in Virginia affect the people who live near them and the broader public.

We found that the data centres that already exist affect nearby residents and the nation as a whole in five main areas: air quality, water quality, noise levels, land use and...

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