Toolkit Helps Communities Respond to Data Centers
Wisconsin’s Green Fire has released a toolkit to help communities understand and respond to hyperscale data center development.
Big Tech Unchecked: A Toolkit for Community Action Around Data Centers was developed with the Sierra Club–Wisconsin Chapter, Midwest Environmental Advocates and Healthy Climate Wisconsin. Although written for Wisconsin, much of the information can be useful to communities elsewhere.
The guide examines data centers’ effects on electricity rates, public health, water supplies, land use, government transparency, noise pollution, and light pollution. It also explains permitting and public-review processes.
Of particular value is its practical guidance for residents. The toolkit covers organizing neighbors, requesting public records, monitoring hearings, submitting testimony, contacting reporters and seeking stronger safeguards.
Data centers can produce continuous noise from cooling systems, electrical equipment and backup generators. The toolkit identifies setbacks, limits on generator use and controls on fan speeds as possible mitigation measures. Such protections are most effective when adopted before a project is approved.
Big Tech Unchecked: A Toolkit for Community Action Around Data Centers (PDF)