Erin Brockovich Launches Platform to Track AI Data Centre Impacts Across US

Environmental activist Erin Brockovich has launched a new initiative to monitor the environmental impact of AI data centres in the United States. The platform, BrockovichDataCenter.com, allows residents to report concerns about large-scale data centre developments in their communities. The website features a crowdsourced map that displays operational, under-construction, and proposed AI-focused data centres, along with reports and complaints from local residents.

Key Highlights

• Erin Brockovich launches a platform to report AI data centre concerns across the US.
• Over 4,200 AI-focused data centres are tracked, with Texas receiving the most complaints.
• Water use is the top concern, followed by electricity, health, and wildlife impacts.

AI Data Centres Under Public Scrutiny

Brockovich’s campaign comes as major technology firms, including Meta, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and OpenAI, invest billions of dollars in AI infrastructure. These data centres are essential for training and operating artificial intelligence models. However, Brockovich argues that the environmental costs of this rapid expansion are not receiving enough attention.

On the website, Brockovich states, “The RACE to build AI infrastructures is unfolding town by town across America. In some places, data centers are welcomed. In others, they are delayed, contested or abandoned altogether. This MAP captures the real-world footprint of that race, revealing patterns of growth, conflict and uncertainty.”

The platform enables users to flag concerns about data centres in their area. It also provides information about the status of each facility, whether operational, under construction, or proposed.

Key Environmental Concerns Highlighted

BrockovichDataCenter.com lists several environmental issues associated with AI data centres. These include high electricity consumption, increased water demand for cooling, electronic waste from outdated hardware, and noise pollution from generators and cooling systems. The site also notes the strain on local infrastructure and highlights risks related to flooding, natural disasters, and geopolitical factors.

According to the platform, the United States now has over 4,200 data centres dedicated to AI workloads. Thousands of community reports have already been submitted, with Texas recording the highest number of complaints. Water use is the most frequently cited concern, followed by electricity usage, health impacts, and effects on wildlife.

The website does not call for a ban on data centres. Instead, Brockovich advocates for “sustainable, secure, and efficient AI data center practices” and increased transparency in project approvals. The platform encourages residents to upload photographs, articles, and tips about local developments.

Brockovich’s Legacy and Ongoing Advocacy

Erin Brockovich is widely known for her role in a landmark environmental case in the 1990s. While working as a legal clerk, she helped expose groundwater contamination in Hinkley, California, linked to Pacific Gas & Electric. Residents were exposed to toxic chromium-6 chemicals, leading to a $333 million settlement in 1996, one of the largest direct-action lawsuit payouts in US history. Her story was later depicted in the 2000 film “Erin Brockovich,” with Julia Roberts winning an Academy Award for her portrayal.