Rural America pushes back against data center expansion

A data center proposal in Tazewell County, Illinois, has been abandoned following local resistance spearheaded by farmer Michael Deppert, who expressed concerns that the facility would threaten the aquifer essential for his irrigation needs. As president of the local farm bureau, Deppert highlighted community worries regarding the potential effects on drinking water. The initiative by Western Hospitality Partners encountered crowded city council sessions and numerous petitions. This situation mirrors a growing opposition throughout rural America, where data centers are relocating from cities to rural regions to take advantage of lower land costs and tax breaks. Pew Research Center indicates that 67% of planned data centers are in rural locations, while 87% of those already established are in urban settings. Miquel Vila from Data Center Watch (operated by 10a Labs) points out that rural areas have become prime targets. Bloomberg data reveals that over 160 AI-centric data centers have been constructed in the U.S. in the past three years, marking a 70% rise. Pew's research shows an increasing perception among Americans that data centers negatively impact the environment, energy expenses, and overall quality of life.