The Tech Policy Press Podcast Across the US, Activists Are Organizing to Oppose Data Centers
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Sep 14, 2025 In this engaging discussion, Steven Renderos, Executive Director of MediaJustice, and Vivek Bharathan from the No Desert Data Center Coalition, dive into the explosive growth of data centers and the rising community resistance against them. They explore the environmental and social ramifications of these facilities and detail grassroots efforts in Tucson to oppose a controversial project. Their insights reveal the power of local activism, the importance of coalition-building, and the critical need for accountability in the tech industry as communities fight back against corporate dominance.
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Power And Water Win Local Support
- Energy and water impacts are the most persuasive local arguments against data centers.
- Residents quickly grasp that data centers can drive up power bills and consume scarce water in arid regions.
Pierce NDAs And Insist On Transparency
- Demand transparency and challenge NDAs that hide developer identity and terms.
- Hold public officials accountable when they vote without full information or hide deals behind secrecy.
Industry Playbook Shapes Local Decisions
- Tech firms use playbooks like NDAs and curated messaging to control narratives.
- That playbook also includes shaping local officials' framing to present projects as inevitable or universally beneficial.