In brief
The Piedmont Environmental Council's Julie Bolthouse voices opposition against the growing number of data centres in Northern Virginia, emphasizing their negative impact on local infrastructure, air quality, and water usage. Activists like Bolthouse are working at both local and state levels to challenge planning applications while similar movements emerge globally, raising critical sustainability questions.
Environmental campaigner Julie Bolthouse is on a mission to halt the rapid expansion of data centres in Northern Virginia, a region that boasts the highest concentration of these facilities in the world. Ms. Bolthouse, who serves as a director for the Piedmont Environmental Council, describes Northern Virginia as "the Wall Street of the data centre industry" — a status she criticizes.Data centres are enormous warehouses filled with servers that manage and store digital information for various entities, from corporations to government agencies. They began proliferating in Northern Virginia in the 1990s, largely due to the area's close proximity to Washington, D.C., coupled with historically low electricity and land costs. Primarily located around Ashburn—35 miles west of the capital—there are currently over 477 data centres in Virginia, significantly ahead of Texas and California, which follow with 290 and 283 facilities respectively. Notably, studies indicate that Ashburn processes about 70% of the globe's internet traffic, earning it the nickname "Data Centre Alley."The surge in demand for data centres, propelled by advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) requiring extensive computing resources, has resulted in a projection that global data centre capacity will double in the next five years, according to Moody’s Analytics. Bolthouse and her fellow environmental advocates caution that such rapid expansion comes with considerable costs to the community's quality of life. They highlight the construction of new electricity lines over conservation lands, rising water usage, and the pollution linked to backup diesel generators used by the data centres.Moreover, residents in Virginia and neighboring Maryland are being burdened with the expense of upgrading electricity networks to accommodate these new facilities. Bolthouse emphasizes her group's commitment to fighting these developments: “We’re working directly on the ground, opposing each data centre application and engaging with local planning authorities.”This is not an isolated struggle. Similar campaigns against data centres have emerged globally, particularly in Ireland, where data centres account for 21% of electricity consumption. Tony Lowes from Friends of the Irish Environment articulates the shared concerns, noting the potential negative implications of data centres on both climate goals and national energy commitments.In response to growing public opposition, major players in the data centre market are introducing initiatives aimed at sustainability. Microsoft, for instance, recently launched its Data Center Community Pledge, vowing to operate on 100% renewable energy by next year and achieve "water positive" status by 2030. Amazon Web Services is also striving for water conservation by utilizing recycled water in several facilities.Environmental activism against data centres has garnered tangible victories in other regions as well. In Uruguay, community protest led to Google altering the design of a facility due to concerns about excessive water consumption amid ongoing drought conditions. Opponents of the data centre also celebrated Google's decision to pivot to an air-cooled system for its operations there.In Virginia, Bolthouse believes the industry must adopt more sustainable practices, emphasizing that its long-term interests depend on addressing environmental concerns. “If we do not change course, electrical prices will soar, affecting everyone—data centres included," she warns, adding that water scarcity represents an impending challenge that must be addressed urgently. Despite current challenges, she remains hopeful for progress in the sustainability of data centres.
