Why are communities pushing back against data centers?

A data center in Ashburn, Virginia.

Ted Shaffrey/AP file

Work & Economy

Why are communities pushing back against data centers?

Tech, data policy expert says concerns legitimate over rising power rates, water use, environmental issues amid mushrooming growth

Liz Mineo

Harvard Staff Writer

April 9, 2026 8 min read

Data centers, which house computer systems that help train AI models...