Data Center boom sparks environmental concerns in Virginia and beyond as communities push for sustainable solutions

Environmental activists, including Virginia-based campaigner Julie Bolthouse, are raising concerns over Northern Virginia’s booming data center industry, now the largest concentration of such facilities worldwide.

 Bolthouse, a director at the Piedmont Environmental Council, likens the area to “the Wall Street of the data center industry” and says the rapid expansion is straining local resources and affecting residents’ quality of life.

Data centers, which store and process vast amounts of digital data, have proliferated in Northern Virginia due to its proximity to Washington, DC, and historically lower land and electricity costs. Centered around Ashburn, Virginia—dubbed “Data Center Alley”—the region hosts more than 477 data centers, far surpassing Texas (290) and California (283). Some studies estimate that as much as 70% of global internet traffic flows through this area.

With the rise of AI and increasing data demands, data center growth shows no signs of slowing, and global capacity is projected to double in the next five years, according to Moody’s. This is causing local concerns, especially among environmentalists like Bolthouse. They point to the new power lines being constructed over conservation land, parks, and neighborhoods, increased water demands, and diesel generators impacting air quality. Virginia and Maryland residents are also expected to help fund electrical grid upgrades for these facilities.

Bolthouse and her team are actively opposing new data center applications and lobbying for stricter zoning laws. “We’re educating local officials and working on the ground to curb unchecked growth,” she says. Similar campaigns are taking place internationally. In Ireland, for example, data centers use 21% of the country’s electricity, and environmental groups argue that fossil-fuel-dependent centers strain the grid and threaten climate goals. Tony Lowes of Friends of the Irish Environment emphasizes the need for data centers to prioritize renewable energy and cooling efficiency measures.

The data center industry is aware of these concerns. Microsoft, for instance, has committed to sourcing 100% renewable energy by next year and becoming “water positive” by 2030, aiming to return more water to communities than it consumes. Amazon Web Services (AWS) has also pledged to become water positive by 2030, and currently uses recycled water for cooling in 20 facilities worldwide.

Josh Levi, president of the Data Center Coalition, argues that data centers drive renewable energy use, with four of the top five US renewable energy purchasers being data center operators. “The industry is also advancing energy efficiency innovations, such as smart thermostats and grid-enhancing technologies, which benefit consumers and utilities,” Levi says.

The global pushback extends to South America, where activists have made headway. In Uruguay, Google modified plans for a new facility, opting for air-cooled instead of water-cooled technology after public protests amid the country’s drinking water shortage. In Chile, Google even halted plans for a new data center due to water use concerns. Bolthouse believes the industry must further prioritize sustainable practices, as unchecked growth could lead to soaring electricity costs and potential water scarcity, which will ultimately impact data centers themselves. “There is progress, but it’s slow,” she says, “and for their own sake, they need to take the environmental impact seriously.”