Strategies from the Front Lines: How Communities Fight Data Centers

Data centers are being proposed and developed at an alarming rate — faster than communities can raise concerns, faster than researchers can gather data, and faster than government can solicit input from stakeholders. The political environment in some states ranges from overtly welcoming (e.g. Pennsylvania Senator Dave McCormick) to covertly welcoming (e.g. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro), with insufficient consideration of the negative impacts to public health, environmental resources, environmental justice, or community self-determination. In this quickly moving situation, pushback is gaining momentum and resulting in more project cancellations, and there is an ever-growing number of resources available to help communities organize their approach at multiple stages in the process. The following narrative details one community member’s experience combatting data center developments, featuring key resources to facilitate similar efforts in other regions.

Matt Lang (right) of Springdale, PA, shares his experience with audiences at the 2026 Community Organizing Summit on Data Centers. Photo by Max Haworth, Community Organizer for Community Action Works.

When a data center was approved in Springdale, Pennsylvania, community member Matt Lang began attending Springdale Borough Council meetings to learn more about its potential impact on residents. He went on to organize a written petition, which he personally presented before the council, becoming a voice for neighbors seeking transparency and accountability in the approval process. “I think bringing attention to the issues data centers cause is a strong first step. Next, pressuring local and state governments to fight back and legislate AI and data centers also can go a long way. On a local level, trying to keep the data center from being granted zoning exceptions, or having your local governments work on creating updated ordinances are excellent ways to protect your community. If it does make it into hearings, fighting the data center at council can give you a strong chance to fight back. Data center companies often want to process everything quickly and take advantage of towns with fewer resources that way the community can't gain momentum or fight back. It is important to organize quickly, get your community active, and learn how local legislation works. Sometimes just going to your local council meetings can go a long way.” And it appears those tactics work: reports indicate that community pushback against data centers led to four times as many cancellations of data center developments in 2025 compared to the previous year.

Attend local meetings and public hearings that may discuss data centers, such as council meetings. Then, use the comment period to share your concerns. Draw from available research and talking points to cite specific evidence about the health impacts of data centers and connect the science to your way of life. Make it personal. Use this opportunity (usually limited to a three-minute speech, roughly 400 words or one and a half pages) to explain how a data center will be detrimental to your community. For a list of local meetings that address data centers, this calendar was compiled by Physicians for Social Responsibility Pennsylvania (PSR PA), a nonprofit organization supported by health professionals who challenge environmental and health inequities.

Ask questions to understand the nature of the data centers proposed or built in your region and what developers are doing to protect public health.

• How large is the facility?

• What energy and infrastructure will be used to power the facility? Are there any renewable energy requirements? Gas-fired data centers, including those that rely on backup diesel generators, cause harmful emissions. How will developers mitigate air pollution and minimize contributions to climate change?

• How will the facilities be cooled? How much water are the facilities expected to use?

• What protections are available to ensure data centers are good neighbors and that data center developers are accountable for impacts on the region? How will developers limit the effects of noise, vibrations, and light on people and wildlife?

• What opportunities are available for community members to review and challenge proposals?

Share a petition. Food and Water Watch (FWW), a nonprofit organization advocating for sustainable food, clean water, and a livable climate, provides a campaign toolkit for raising community support to halt data centers, along with this sample petition.

Lang recalls, “I tried to ask questions of the developers so that they could better inform me of what they considered benefits, but it mostly only came down to revenue.” When information about the risks of data centers was not forthcoming, Lang turned to local news sources. “We were lucky enough that many of them filed Right-To-Knows, a process to obtain information from our borough's council. I also attempted to search the internet for information regarding data centers, as this process was still early on and I was learning how to navigate local government. Lastly, I sought out resources from different environmental groups like Protect PT and Climate Reality Project.”

Submit a Right to Know request (RTK). RTK requests grant members of the public access to government documents that are not readily available. Such documents may include contracts, operational records, and incident reports. Environmental Integrity Project (EIP), a nonprofit organization that protects public health and natural resources by advocating for environmental standards, provides a step-by-step guide for accessing open records and filing a Right to Know request.

“Lastly, pressuring your state legislators to create legislation on data centers is another line of defense,” Lang advises. “Whether it is to protect from the increasing electricity cost, putting extra parameters on pollutants, or requiring renewable energy sources, anything can help protect our environment and our health.”

Update ordinances and keep data centers from acquiring zoning exceptions. An ordinance is a piece of legislation passed by a municipal authority, such as a city council, that regulates building zones and permits, as well as other local practices that affect quality of life within the jurisdiction, such as noise levels. Some local zoning designations are tracked with this searchable digital map produced by Land Use Atlas, Inc., a nonprofit organization providing critical information about land use regulations. Additionally, The Data Center Policy Database is a searchable resource of zoning approvals, tax incentives, utility rules, and permitting requirements that is freely accessible for the purpose of strengthening public awareness of the consequences of data centers and supporting coordination in and across states to regulate data center developments.

Based on the current status of zoning in your region, you may be able to advocate for stronger ordinances to protect public health and the environment. Refer to this data center model ordinance by PennFuture, a nonprofit watchdog organization striving to secure clean air, pure water, and a healthy climate for Pennsylvanians.

Strong ordinances can help ensure

• data centers are built and operate within particular zones,

• noise, vibrations, and light do not exceed a maximum nuisance thresholds,

• limits are placed on the use of generators and release of air pollution,

• operators are responsible for the monitoring of air and water quality, and

• emergency preparedness plans are available in case of industrial accidents.

Still, Lang is optimistic that more communities will push back against developers and secure healthy environments across the country. “The biggest source of hope I have is the great people who are fighting against these data centers. Not only did I see a lot of my community active on a local level, we see mass pushback from many communities, state and nationwide. U.S. citizens are truly trying to take a stand against these data centers, and are truly trying to make a difference. We all want to do what is best for each other, and don't want corporations sacrificing the health of our neighbors for short-sighted profit .... There are many good people in this country who want to protect each other, and I think if we work together, we can create a better future for those who come after us.”

Participants in the 2026 Community Organizing Summit on Data Centers gather with signs denouncing data centers and supporting clean energy. Photo by Protect PT.

There have never been more resources available to support frontline advocacy with respect to data centers. Given the lived experiences of those already being impacted by data center developments, it is clear that early involvement can be more effective for protecting the health of your own community.

If you are concerned about data center development in your community, consider these options to strengthen your own advocacy ...

Bring attention to health consequences of data centers by educating your neighbors and local decisionmakers.

Request a Health Impact Assessment (HIA) to understand the potential health impacts of a project and provide recommendations for how to maximize positive health impacts and minimize negative ones. Generally, HIAs need to be conducted by a professional with relevant experience. For information about the process and necessary considerations, EHP provides a Guide to Health Impact Assessments for Communities and a Guide to HIAs for Nonprofit Organizations.

Request a dispersion map from EHP to visualize how pollution will travel from a facility or proposed facility. EHP employs HYSPLIT modeling to track average air emissions over time, revealing vital information about air quality, environmental risks, and monitor placement. View EHP’s library of extant dispersion maps here. If the community of concern is not already included, you can request a dispersion map by completing this linked form.

Connect with other communities facing similar situations. Halt the Harm, for example, provides a network of community advocates, researchers, health experts, and non-profits exchanging knowledge and resources to address oil and gas development across the U.S.

Advocate for a Community Benefits Agreement with the developer if a data center is approved in your community. For more information, consult this guide to Best Practices for Negotiation and Drafting Community Benefit Agreements by the NAACP.

Consult health and legal resources, emergency contacts, and more ways to get involved at EHP’s Where to Turn Directory.

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