Datacentres urged to address local concerns as opposition grows

Schneider Electric says demand for datacenter equipment remains strong, despite growing public opposition to new facilities. Its datacenter vice president argues operators will need to earn local support by being more open about projects’ effects on nearby communities.

Steven Carlini says residents have often had little visibility into plans until construction began, while concerns include electricity supply and bills, water use, emissions, land and noise. He expects permitting and operating rules to require disclosure and ongoing reporting. A Pew Research Center survey found that more than half of Americans view datacenters as harmful to the environment, household energy bills and water resources.