this post was submitted on 22 Jan 2026
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Except you’re missing the reality of the situation for the sake of theory. They pointed out quite rightly that these new data centres are not using clean energy and are, in fact, propping up old fossil-fuel plants which should be closing to make way for clean energy.
They could choose a lot of stuff, but since it’s a choice and not forced upon them they are jumping on the quicker options. Why wait for a bunch of renewable sources to be built when you could simply use the existing, shitty stuff and get your shit built quicker? Corporations don’t give a fuck about anything but money and they will let people fucking die if it would save them even 0.01% of their annual revenue. It wouldn’t the first or even the thousandth time it’s happened.
Corporations also misinterpret facts for their benefit.
I can easily see people make the argument that data centers affect air quality because they are powered by coal power plants and the data center rep is going to reply "we aren't building a coal power plant at this data center site; that's just opposition fear mongering" and now it becomes harder to get people to believe you on other issues.
Ok but that’s pretty much what you’re saying. The plants are linked to increases in pollution and you’re like “well just because they always are and no one is stopping them doesn’t mean they need to be!”
It is more addressing what is happening on site versus part of a regional problem.
You're likely to get more people to show up to a zoning board meeting by saying that this data center is going to increase air pollution. Then the data center rep is going to ensure that no or a small power plant able to act as a backup is going to be used. Everyone will be happy, but the data center still gets built because the pollution isn't happening on site.