Environmental activist Erin Brockovich is calling for greater transparency regarding the construction of AI data centers across the U.S. [1, 2].
This push for oversight comes as the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure strains power grids and raises community concerns about environmental impacts. Because these projects are often built with limited public notice, activists argue that local populations are being excluded from critical decisions affecting their resources [2, 3, 4, 5].
Brockovich launched a reporting website in April 2026 [3] to collect information on these projects. She said she has received thousands of reports on AI data centers [2]. According to Brockovich, the most common concern among those reporting is a lack of transparency [2].
"If data centers are so great, why are they being built in secret?" Brockovich said [2].
The controversy reflects a broader tension within the tech industry. Some Amazon employees have publicly demanded regulations on data-center projects to protect communities [3]. This internal pressure coincides with a massive global investment surge, as spending on new AI data centers could top $7 trillion by 2030 [6].
While some reports suggest these facilities are being built in secret [2], other accounts indicate that AI companies are openly rebuilding and reimagining centers to navigate grid limits [4]. Despite these differences in perception, the scale of construction continues to accelerate across multiple states [1, 3].
Advocates argue that without mandatory public disclosure, the environmental cost of AI, including water usage and energy consumption, will remain hidden from the people living nearest to the facilities [4, 5].
“"If data centers are so great, why are they being built in secret?"”
The intersection of AI growth and environmental activism signals a shift in how tech infrastructure is scrutinized. As the physical requirements of AI—specifically massive energy and water needs—clash with local utility capacities and environmental goals, the industry faces a transition from unregulated growth to a period of potential legislative oversight and community-led resistance.
