Erin Brockovich launches a US map tracking data centers and complaints

In short: Erin Brockovich has launched a website with a US map of data centers and is collecting public reports to push for more openness about new projects.

What happened

Environmental activist Erin Brockovich, best known for her role in a major pollution case later dramatized in the film “Erin Brockovich,” is focusing on data centers.

A data center is a large building filled with computers that store and process information, like a giant warehouse for the internet. These facilities are used by many companies, including those building and running AI systems.

Brockovich recently launched a website that includes a map of data centers across the United States. The site says the map is a work in progress and that it includes data centers reported by people in nearby communities.

In a Substack post, Brockovich said she asked the public in April to share data center related issues. She said she received nearly 4,000 submissions in the first month.

She wrote that the most common concern was “transparency,” meaning people feel they are not being told what is happening and when. Brockovich said she is not against data centers or AI in general, but she is criticizing a pattern where projects are announced only after permits are secured, developers do not respond to residents, and some local officials sign NDAs.

An NDA is a non-disclosure agreement, which is a legal promise to keep information secret (like being told you can approve a plan, but you cannot tell your neighbors about it).

Why it matters

Data centers can affect nearby neighborhoods through noise, water use, and power demand that may influence utility bills. Brockovich’s project suggests more people want clear information early, so they can ask questions and raise concerns before decisions are locked in.

Source: TechCrunch AI