Erin Brockovich, known for winning a historic $333 million settlement against Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) in 1993, and the inspiration for Julia Roberts’ film, recently shared she is receiving numerous reports from U.S. residents concerning the construction of AI data centers in their neighborhoods.
“Whenever I get a lot of emails, that signals something,” Brockovich explained during a conversation with comedian Theo Fung on his podcast last weekend, where she noted that “Data Centers” had caught her attention.
“As I delved into this… I found that my questions about the data center weren’t really being addressed,” she added. “I like to see the bigger picture and create maps.”
Brockovich then mentioned that she created a website called brockovichdatacenter.com for people to report issues related to local data centers.
“I’ve put together a self-reporting registry before,” Brockovich noted. “It’s interesting—there’s no place for people to report their experiences. Everything goes through an agency.”
“This site allows those who actually live with these issues to offer their insights,” she remarked.
She also highlighted that the platform faced technical difficulties shortly after its launch, saying, “The map crashed twice within 72 hours.”
“By the third day, I realized, ‘Wow, this isn’t isolated to one town, one aquifer, or one data center. This is a nationwide concern,'” she reflected, noting her past work against PG&E in Hinckley, California.
Brockovich added that the reports she receives generally feature one common issue: residents were often unaware of nearby facility constructions, sometimes waking up to find the work already underway.
“They were completely in the dark,” she said. “They discovered the construction without any prior notification, stating, ‘The City Council didn’t inform us anything,’ apparently due to big tech companies operating outside of public view.”
Brockovich asserted that this situation is occurring “in every state.”
Recently, she has made it her mission to address the rise of AI data centers, a growing concern for many Americans both domestically and internationally.
As reported, Georgia is facing challenges in meeting the water demands from AI data centers, with Atlanta planners urging operators to consider community needs and curb consumption, although water use varies significantly between facilities.
Opposition to AI data center constructions has resulted in numerous blocks or delays, affecting around $130 billion worth of projects this year, as shown in a recent survey. A Gallup poll also indicates a substantial majority of Americans oppose the establishment of local AI data centers.
In June, country music star Brad Paisley encouraged public resistance against a proposed AI data center near the Nashville Zoo, describing it as an “absolute nightmare scenario,” expressing concern over its potential impacts.
Last week, New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced a statewide halt on new data center developments, pausing environmental permits for up to a year while the state formulates comprehensive regulatory standards.
AI data centers have emerged as a contentious political issue, drawing criticism from both conservative and liberal factions when these resource-heavy facilities are proposed nearby. Wynton Hall, a social media director, has authored a book titled Code Red: Left, Right, China, and the Race to Control AI, which aims to guide the MAGA movement in taking a stance on AI that benefits humanity while maintaining control over domestic interests.
