source: techcrunch ai: erin brockovich takes aim at data center secrecy
level: business
erin brockovich, known for her environmental activism, is now focusing on data center construction. she created a website with a map of data centers across the united states. the map relies on reports from people living near these facilities. in a substack post, brockovich said she received nearly 4,000 submissions in the first month after asking for input. the top concern was not noise, water use, or utility costs, but a lack of transparency.
brockovich is not against data centers or ai in general. instead, she objects to how projects often move forward. the map shows cases where permits were secured before public announcement, developers ignored community questions, and local officials signed nondisclosure agreements before residents knew about plans. this pattern, she argues, leaves communities in the dark about projects that affect their environment and daily lives.
the effort aims to give people a way to share information and push for change. by collecting and displaying reports, brockovich hopes to pressure developers and governments to be more open. the map is described as a work in progress, with data added as new submissions come in. this grassroots approach could influence how data center projects are approved and built, especially as demand for ai infrastructure grows.
why it matters: data centers are critical for ai and data science, but their rapid expansion can strain local resources and trust; transparency helps balance growth with community impact.
source: techcrunch ai: erin brockovich takes aim at data center secrecy