Smart Planning Needed for Asia's Data Centre Buildout

A South China Morning Post opinion piece argues that Asia's data centre expansion, unlike in the West, has not yet triggered widespread protests, but proactive policies are essential to prevent future backlash. The article highlights that in the US, which hosts 37% of the world's approximately 10,800 data centres, 2026 saw significant opposition, including 142 protests across 42 states on July 18. Data Centre Watch reports that 75 US projects worth US$130 billion have been blocked or delayed. Pew research indicates that 67% of American adults worry about impacts on home energy costs, and 63% are concerned about environmental harm. Other anxieties include noise, property values, local jobs, and taxation, making data centres a new 'not in my backyard' issue, with a National Day of Action planned for August 1. The piece also notes the concentration of AI-specialised computing capacity: over 90% is in the US or China, while 150 countries lack significant domestic AI infrastructure, according to a UN think tank report. The author calls for smart planning to guide Asia's buildout, emphasizing the need for policies to address potential community concerns before they escalate.