Environmental activist Erin Brockovich has turned her attention to the secrecy surrounding data center construction and its effects on nearby communities.
Brockovich, who became a household name after Julia Roberts portrayed her in a film about her legal battle with Pacific Gas & Electric, recently launched a website featuring a map of data centers across the United States.
The website describes the map as a "work in progress" and includes data centers reported by community members. In a Substack post, Brockovich said she received nearly 4,000 submissions in the first month after putting out a call in April for reports of data center related issues.
Transparency tops list of concerns
"The single most common concern, more than noise, more than water usage, more than rising utility bills, is the one word that keeps appearing in submission after submission: transparency," she wrote.
Brockovich made clear she is not making a blanket argument against data centers or artificial intelligence. Instead, she objects to what she described as a pattern documented by her map: projects announced after permits are already secured, developers who do not return calls, and local officials who signed nondisclosure agreements before neighbors knew a project was under consideration.
Community driven mapping effort
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The map aims to give residents a tool to track data center development in their areas. By collecting firsthand reports, Brockovich hopes to shine a light on how these facilities are approved and built, often with little public input.
Data center construction has surged in recent years, driven by the explosive growth of cloud computing and AI. Communities have raised concerns about noise from backup generators, massive water consumption for cooling, and increased strain on local power grids. But the lack of advance notice and limited opportunity for public comment have become flashpoints in many regions.
Brockovich's stance
Brockovich emphasized that she is not opposed to technology or progress. Her campaign focuses on processes that leave residents in the dark until it is too late to voice objections or negotiate mitigations.
At a time when data center developers often cite national security or competitive reasons for secrecy, Brockovich's project brings a consumer and community perspective to the debate. Her map may become a reference point for local governments and advocacy groups seeking more disclosure.
The effort is still in its early stages. Brockovich has not announced specific next steps but said the map will continue to be updated as new reports come in.