A Hallowed Monument to US History May Be Assailed by Data Centers
The proliferation of data centers in the U.S. is raising concerns about their environmental impact and encroachment on residential areas. Developers are attempting to acquire large tracts of land for these facilities, promising economic benefits that may not materialize. Community members, including notable figures, are protesting against these projects, particularly near historically significant sites like the Manassas National Battlefield Park.
- ▪Data centers are consuming vast amounts of water and electricity, contributing to rising energy bills.
- ▪Developers are targeting suburban communities for new data center projects, often offering temporary jobs and tax breaks.
- ▪The proposed Prince William Digital Gateway project could cover 2,100 acres near a significant Civil War battlefield.
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freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: "motherjones_right_rail_1", slotId: "ROS_ATF_300x600" }); Mother Jones illustration; Hugh Kenny/PECVA; Billy Hathorn/Wikimedia Get your news from a source that’s not owned and controlled by oligarchs. Sign up for the free Mother Jones Daily. It’s hard to make a story about data centers interesting. I know this because that was the goal I gave myself recently: Report a data center story that wasn’t totally soporific. And honestly, it was a challenge. Whether I succeeded remains to be seen—breaking news, I did!—but what I learned during my reporting has been the subject of every dinner party discussion I’ve had for months. You’ve probably heard that data centers are sprouting all over America like weeds in an empty field.
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