From Energy Use to Air Quality, the Many Ways Data Centers Affect US Communities

World Resources Institute Insights, February 2026

By: World Resources Institute

https://www.wri.org/insights/us-data-center-growth-impacts
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Data Centers

This article discusses data center developments and their impacts on communities. The article examines impacts associated with energy use, water consumption, pollution, noise, land use, disproportionate effects on marginalized communities, and economic tradeoffs. The authors provide examples of local approaches to address these impacts.