Well-known activist Erin Brockovich is stepping into the AI data center debate, launching an online platform that invites residents across the U.S. to report concerns tied to data center construction and operations.
The website collects reports tied to both proposed and existing data centers. Within days of launch, thousands of submissions had been logged, with Texas generating the largest number of complaints. Concerns over water consumption ranked highest among respondents, followed by electricity usage, public health and environmental effects.
The public’s concerns over AI are numerous, including worries about job displacement and the safety of AI models. In contrast, Brockovich’s campaign directs attention toward the infrastructure footprint required to run AI systems at scale.
Brockovich was portrayed in the film Erin Brockovich, which told the true story of her underdog efforts to fight corporate environmental abuse at the local level. The movie earned five nominations at the 73rd Academy Awards, with Julia Roberts winning Best Actress. Worldwide, the movie grossed $256 million.
A Big Target
Brockovich has chosen a big target: the AI infrastructure footprint is expanding at an astounding rate. Microsoft, Amazon, Google and Meta are expected to collectively spend more than $600 billion on AI infrastructure in 2026 alone. And more than 4,200 data centers already operate across the U.S. to support cloud and AI workloads.
Her campaign also introduces a new reputational challenge for the tech sector. For years, data centers operated outside public visibility despite their importance to the digital economy. AI has changed that equation. The vast computational demands of generative AI models have made data centers more visible both physically and politically.
The debate now extends beyond AI innovation itself to urgent questions about who absorbs the costs of the infrastructure race. Communities are questioning whether local residents are absorbing the costs of infrastructure investment for major tech companies.
Even as the dispute heats up, states continue competing to attract investment. Local governments often offer tax incentives and streamlined permitting in hopes of securing jobs and revenue tied to hyperscale projects.
The buildout has transformed certain US states into major AI infrastructure hubs. Virginia holds the largest concentration due to its dense fiber network and proximity to federal agencies. Texas has attracted developers through inexpensive land and flexible energy markets. Arizona, Georgia, Ohio and Utah have also emerged as key destinations because of tax incentives and lower real estate costs.
Across the Political Divide
In a rarity of U.S. politics, what was once primarily an issue for environmental groups has prompted resistance across political lines, with residents on either side of the political divide objecting to how data centers reshape smaller towns and suburban areas.
AI data centers devour vast amounts of electricity and water. Cooling systems can require millions of gallons of water annually. Large facilities also introduce heavy industrial equipment and constant mechanical noise into residential or semi-rural communities.
In drought-prone regions, water usage has become especially contentious. Residents in several states have challenged projects they believe could strain already limited local supplies. Other communities have raised concerns about strained electrical grids and the long-term effect of massive facilities on municipal planning.
“I am watching as You, the communities show up and speak out,” Brockovich’s website says. “In the famous words of Mark Twain…’The secret of getting ahead is getting started,’ so let’s go!”
