How do we live with data centres?

As artificial intelligence accelerates global demand for data centres—projected to over-triple by 2030—communities worldwide are pushing back against their construction, especially near urban areas. In Potter's Bar, UK, residents protest a proposed mega-data centre on farmland they see as a cherished green space, arguing that replacing centuries-old hedgerows and oak trees with concrete and cooling infrastructure would erase a vital part of their community’s identity. Meanwhile, Equinix defends the project, citing 2,500 construction jobs, 200 permanent roles, and economic benefits worth hundreds of millions to the UK. But critics, including Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, warn that data centres are driving up energy bills and straining local grids, with one facility consuming as much power in one second as 100,000 homes. In Chile, Google’s data centre is accused of draining groundwater from wetlands, sparking environmental protests. Yet industry leaders like Dan Diorio of the Data Center Coalition argue these concerns stem from misperceptions, emphasizing data centres’ efficiency and economic importance. The solution may lie not in halting growth, but in innovation: Microsoft’s underwater data centre prototype, space-based concepts, and microfluidic cooling—technologies that promise to drastically reduce energy and water use. The future of data centres may not be bigger, but smarter, more efficient, and more integrated into the environment.