As artificial intelligence grows pervasive, so too do the data centers powering it, leading to rising opposition in rural areas. Communities in states like Indiana and Missouri are rejecting these large facilities, which are infamous for their massive electricity consumption and environmental impact. Activists, supported by grassroots organizations, cite the profit motives of data center developers and the disproportionate burden these facilities place on local resources. Successful campaigns in places like Peculiar, Missouri, have inspired similar resistance efforts across the country, fostering a network of support among communities fighting against these developments.
"Hyper scale data centers bring few benefits to communities. Dozens of communities around the nation severely struggle from the presence of data centers. It's only about maximizing their profits, so they choose properties as close as possible to a large power supply."
"We don't want to be the next Data Center Alley," said Wendy Reigel, an organizer from Indiana who had helped the community repel a proposed facility.
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