By Carmen Berry, SanDiego350 Member
Artificial intelligence, the world’s fastest-growing technological sector, has met the people’s demand for instant security of mind, allowing access to a seemingly infinite wealth of information at the touch of a finger. As tech companies worldwide jump at the opportunity to capitalize on emerging consumer interest and integrate Artificial Intelligence technology into daily operations, our land, water, and electricity are being stolen to accommodate the financial interests of these tech giants.
Currently, AI models use exorbitant amounts of water and fossil-fuel-sourced electricity in order to power search engines and cool the supercomputers that store data and process digital inquiries. However, the environmental concerns tied to the global expansion of the artificial intelligence sector begin far before direct consumer engagement; they begin with the creation of resource-guzzling data centers reshaping rural communities. Artificial Intelligence is projected to use approximately 13% of the world’s electricity by 2028, with each AI query using 10x more electricity than a Google search result. Those living in proximity to AI data centers report increased energy rates, with surging power demand straining grids and threatening affordability for working-class citizens.
Many citizens initially welcomed the development of data centers due to the promise of increased jobs; however, they quickly realized that these facilities do not support permanent job retention once they’ve been built due to the limited number of employees needed for facility maintenance. In addition to not sufficiently redistributing wealth throughout the communities that house them, AI data centers contribute to skyrocketing energy costs by dominating local supply chains, which contribute to residential displacement and exacerbate utility inequity within low-income communities. NPR reports that the average AI data center annually uses as much electricity as 100,000 American households- and with the Bureau of Labor Statistics stating that electricity prices have increased by up to 40% since 2020, it is no wonder that our most vulnerable citizens are struggling to pay more than they can afford for basic utilities.
Increased investments in artificial intelligence have the potential to exacerbate issues of inequality in energy allocation, with the development of new data centers highlighting AI’s role in increasing the cost of living for working-class households. With AI companies intentionally building resource-draining data centers in low-income areas, citizens carry the financial burdens of tech expansion while being the most vulnerable to the water and air quality affects. Abre Conner, the director of the NAACP Center for Environmental and Climate Justice, states that “data centers exacerbate concerns that are already present within communities”, including issues of housing security, human health and safety, and resource scarcity, which are highly dependent on location. This makes the advocacy of grassroots organizations essential to the development of data centers, the regulation of future tech expansion, and increasing public awareness of the economic, social, and environmental impacts of AI.
Despite politicians across the political spectrum loudly advocating on behalf of AI expansion, citing potential job growth and additional technological innovation, advocates who are directly affected by encroaching data centers continue to educate citizens about the social justice implications of AI in order to promote the conscious consumption of AI tools. One 2026 POLITICO poll found that 50% of voters used AI and supported AI development, but only 36% reported that they would approve of a data center being built in their neighborhood. With many tech companies integrating artificial intelligence into their products, it is nearly impossible for Americans to opt out of AI usage, making it more essential for citizens to join the fight to hold tech companies accountable for utility rate increases and resource depletion.
As the federal government seeks to expedite permitting for data centers nationwide, efforts to shape AI-related legislation have emerged to address specific concerns about energy use. AI energy demand is set to outsource available energy capacity, resulting in many AI firms beginning to utilize on-site natural gas turbines to bypass strained power grids, with projects like OpenAI’s partnership with Crusoe using 29 gas turbines. To incentivize transitions towards renewable energy, politicians such as San Diego’s House Representative Mike Levin have proposed legislation, which would focus on lowering ratepayers’ costs and incentivizing zero-emission technologies for “large energy consumption facilities” such as AI data centers.
While ratepayers continue to bear the financial implications of data center development, developers must prioritize energy efficiency and decouple themselves from local water and power grids. Namely, by utilizing regenerative energy sources that do not require cooling, developers can reduce their water consumption and minimize their impact on local communities. Until legislation emerges that strictly regulates the land acquisition and resource usage of AI data centers, environmentalists will continue to advocate against the infringement of artificial intelligence on American citizens’ right to affordable water and energy.