Data center projects face rising local resistance

Local opposition to data center construction is becoming a more serious obstacle for technology companies, The Verge reported, with some firms reconsidering expansion plans amid pushback in the U.S. and abroad. The disputes matter because AI services and other online products depend on large computing facilities that can strain nearby infrastructure and draw scrutiny from residents.

The Verge pointed to an earlier fight in Athenry, Ireland, as a preview of the conflicts now emerging around data center projects. Apple announced plans in 2015 for a data center there that would support its European services, including iTunes, iMessage and Siri, according to The Verge.

Business Insider reported the planned facility was valued at roughly $1 billion. The Verge reported that the site covered 500 acres and that Apple presented the project as one that would include public-facing benefits, including outdoor education areas, walking trails and a native tree replanting effort.

Apple also said the Athenry data center would run entirely on renewable energy, according to The Verge. Local approval did not end the fight, however, as residents challenged the project before Ireland’s independent planning board.

Those residents raised concerns about noise, light pollution, flooding, traffic and effects on local wildlife, according to Business Insider. The planning board approved Apple’s project in 2016, The Irish Times reported.

Opponents then sought judicial review in the Irish High Court, according to The Verge. Data Center Dynamics reported that the court ruled in Apple’s favor in 2017.

The Athenry fight shows how data center projects can face prolonged resistance even after companies promise community benefits and cleaner power. According to The Verge, similar objections are now surfacing across communities as the AI boom increases demand for computing capacity and raises concerns about local power grids.

This story draws on original reporting from The Verge.