Renowned environmental advocate Erin Brockovich has launched a new initiative aimed at increasing public awareness and transparency surrounding the rapid expansion of data centers across the United States. Brockovich, widely known for her legal battle against a major utility company that inspired an award-winning Hollywood film, is now focusing on the environmental and community impacts of large-scale digital infrastructure projects.

As part of the campaign, she unveiled an online map that tracks data centers nationwide. The platform, which is still under development, relies heavily on reports submitted by residents living near existing or proposed facilities. According to Brockovich, the project is designed to give communities a stronger voice in discussions about developments that may affect their environment and quality of life.

The environmental activist revealed that after requesting public feedback on data center-related concerns earlier this year, nearly 4,000 submissions were received within the first month. The responses highlighted a range of issues, including noise pollution, water consumption, and rising utility costs.

However, Brockovich noted that the most recurring concern was the lack of transparency surrounding many projects. Residents frequently reported learning about developments only after permits had already been approved or key decisions had been finalized.

While raising concerns, Brockovich emphasized that her campaign is not an attack on artificial intelligence or data centers themselves. Instead, she is calling for greater openness from developers and local authorities throughout the planning and approval process.

She argued that communities deserve early access to information about projects that could significantly impact their neighborhoods, stressing that transparency should be a fundamental requirement in future infrastructure development.

Source: TechCrunch