Health Fears Over $10B Data Center Project Drive Local Opposition

Modeling by researchers at the University of California-Riverside projects that emissions from data centers could cause nearly 1,300 deaths annually by 2030. The study estimates the annual public health burden will exceed $20 billion in 2028. These figures have given concrete weight to opposition against new construction in communities ranging from Page, Arizona, to rural Ohio and Texas.

The financial stakes are substantial for developers and local governments. In Page, the City Council approved the sale of 500 acres for a proposed $10 billion mega data center. The site sits on open land near Horseshoe Bend, an iconic curve of the Colorado River. While the specific location within the acreage is undecided, residents have mobilized against the project. Local polls indicate that 57% of registered voters in Arizona oppose the construction of more large facilities.

Doug Herrera, 64, lives in his father’s home in Page. His yard features a sign reading No Data Centers. Herrera cites light pollution, sound pollution, and rising temperatures as primary concerns. Jan Boehme, another resident near the proposed site, expressed worry about noise levels. Advocacy groups note that generator hum can exceed 90 decibels, a volume capable of harming hearing. They also point to forever chemicals in cooling components and light pollution that may increase chronic disease risk.

The political impact is visible in swing districts. In Arizona’s 1st Congressional District, Republican Jay Feely and Democrat Amish Shah are at odds over data center expansion. Feely, who won his primary with an endorsement from President Trump, argues the facilities are necessary to compete with China. Shah calls for a pause on new construction. The race is considered competitive and may influence the outcome of the November 3 midterms. President Trump has supported data center construction as vital for economic growth, creating tension with his base in rural areas where these projects are often built.

Ohio presents a similar challenge for Republicans. The state has more than a dozen local referendums related to data center construction on upcoming ballots. Former Senator Sherrod Brown is attacking incumbent Senator Jon Husted, calling him the face of data centers in campaign ads. Brown highlights that roughly $2.5 billion in state and local tax breaks over the last decade attracted companies like Meta, Amazon, and Google to build dozens of facilities in Ohio. A memo from the National Republican Senatorial Committee described data centers as an anchor around Husted’s neck in the race.

Husted’s spokesperson, Tom Evans, stated that the senator believes data centers should remain a local decision. Husted has also said he wants to ensure companies pay for infrastructure costs, including energy. In Ohio, a survey by Ohio Northern University found that 55% of adults opposed construction. About two-thirds had a negative opinion of the environmental impact. An October poll by Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos found that two in three Americans oppose new data centers nationwide.

The Data Center Coalition, an industry trade group, responded to the concerns. Dan Diorio, the group’s executive vice president of state policy, stated that data centers are committed to being responsible partners. The coalition argued that a review of the largest market found backup power use is minimal and that existing regulations limit emissions. Shaolei Ren, a professor at UC Riverside, noted that diesel generators emit nitrogen oxide, a pollutant that can travel to downwind communities. In Page, residents voted out the mayor in July following backlash over the land sale approval.

Cleanview, a market intelligence company, reports that 60% of data center capacity under construction is in states President Trump won by five percentage points or more. Excluding Virginia, 92% of that capacity is in states he won. The United States currently operates about 1,400 data centers, with more than 2,000 additional facilities planned. Lee Hannah, a political science professor at Wright State University, observed that grassroots opposition has emerged quickly, making decisions to support projects one or two years ago suddenly risky for incumbents.