As tech companies invest extensively in new data centers to keep up with the global AI boom, communities across the United States find themselves affected. In St. Louis, the transformation of a million square feet of old warehouse space into a data center is creating a significant debate. David Daneshforooz, CEO of TerraWatt, aims to develop this space, hoping to revitalize the area.
Daneshforooz remarked, “St. Louis has a lot of old, kind of decaying infrastructure that’s being underutilized. And so data centers have the opportunity, if done responsibly, to bring back industry into those communities.” However, many in the community do not support the project. A Gallup poll reveals over 70% of Americans oppose data center development nearby.
Kasey Fowler-Finn, a biologist at Saint Louis University, has joined a lawsuit to stop the development. She expressed concerns over noise, water usage, electricity consumption, and environmental impact. Fowler-Finn stated, “There’s been no environmental impact assessment and no low-frequency sound study. A lot of claims are being made that don’t actually have data to back it up,” highlighting a lack of transparency.
A recent Gallup poll found that more than 70% of Americans don’t want data centers in their area.
The debate extends to the technological role these data centers play. Daneshforooz sees fear in the community’s reaction to AI, describing it as “the unknown.” Fowler-Finn, however, argues the worry is well-founded and backed by scientific evidence. “We have to be very careful about where and how we install these large data centers,” she noted.
Daneshforooz warns that excluding data centers from the U.S. could risk data security. “Where is that information and data going to be stored? Would you rather have it be in a place like this in the middle of America, or in a country that we can’t regulate or control?” he asked.
Developers are committed to funding their electricity usage, employing a closed water system, and investing hundreds of millions in local schools. While this strategy has succeeded in other areas, it remains to be seen if it will appease St. Louis residents.