"Change.org saw at least 113 petitions that mentioned data centers in 2025, the platform shared with Fast Company, totaling around 50,000 signatures. It's not clear if that figure includes multiple petitions about the same data center project. These petitions also simply mention data centers, whether for or against, but a cursory search of the petitions shows that the vast majority were opposed to data centers."
"For Change.org, the topic is new: In all of 2024, there was just one petition regarding a data center, in April. No other petitions mentioned data centers until a year later, Change.org says, in April 2025. Then, they began to tick up: Under five petitions appeared each month until August, and then 12 in September, 37 in October, and 24 in November. And December looks to be even higher. As of Monday, users have created 28 petitions data center petitions this month."
"One petition, titled " Stop Data Center at Former Landover Mall Site," was created in June, concerning a data center in Landover, Maryland. It has more than 20,000 signatures, with many supporters calling out how data centers use immense energy and water, and often mean higher utility costs for residents. Say "NO" to the construction of "Project Tango" AI data center in Palm Beach County," starts another petition, which has more than 7,000 signatures, and was started earlier in December."
Petitions opposing data centers surged in 2025, with at least 113 petitions on Change.org collecting around 50,000 signatures. Petitions began appearing in April 2025 and increased monthly, rising sharply from September through December. Opponents cite large energy and water consumption and potential increases in residents' utility costs. The largest petition mentioned is against a proposed data center at the former Landover Mall, which gathered more than 20,000 signatures. Another petition opposing 'Project Tango' in Palm Beach County gathered over 7,000 signatures. Many petitions specifically oppose data center projects rather than simply mentioning them.
Read at Fast Company
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