Township residents and people from nearby communities questioned state environmental regulators during a hearing on a wastewater-treatment permit for a large OpenAI, Oracle and Related Digital data center. Residents requested stricter permit conditions, questioned allowing the operator to monitor its own discharge and raised concerns about phosphorus, emerging contaminants and cumulative effects on a local river.
Animals, Natural Resources & Environment
Public Testimony/Written Comments
Public Meeting/Town Hall Participation
Farmers and other residents questioned the location of a proposed energy park at community meetings, sought more time for review and supported a temporary data-center moratorium. More than 200 people reportedly attended the developer’s information session.
Animals, Natural Resources & Environment
Public Meeting/Town Hall Participation
County residents organized into a group after county commissioners approved a proposed 41-acre Global AI data center nearby. Following months of organizing and public testimony, the group began collecting signatures for two measures: a referendum that would ask voters to reconsider the project’s approval and an initiative requiring voter approval before future data centers receive occupancy permits. Each petition needs 9,103 valid signatures to reach the ballot.
Animals, Natural Resources & Environment
Coalition Building/Community Organizing
Public Testimony/Written Comments
Ballot Initiative or Referendum Campaign/Signature Gathering
Citizens for a Better Flathead sued Flathead County over 22 lakeshore permits approved without the public notice and Planning Board review the group contends the law requires. The group seeks future procedures incorporating public comment, factual findings and Planning Board review. Residents have also participated in workshops concerning the regulations.
Animals, Natural Resources & Environment
Public Testimony/Written Comments
Litigation/Court Challenge
Rural Vermont Rising is a growing grassroots network of farmers, landowners and other rural residents seeking greater influence over Vermont’s land-use and economic policies. Emerging from opposition to Act 181, the movement has organized demonstrations, delivered legislative testimony and mobilized public participation in a regional planning process. It now has roughly 18,000 Facebook members, at least 14 local chapters and a steering committee developing policy recommendations on farming, housing, conservation, schools and rural development. The group describes itself as nonpartisan and says it intends to remain active beyond any single election or legislative fight.
Animals, Natural Resources & Environment
Coalition Building/Community Organizing
Public Testimony/Written Comments
Peaceful Protest/Demonstration
Local residents in Raleigh's historically Black and Latino neighborhoods opposed annexation of land designated for new data centers at public hearings and subsequently pressed the City Council for a temporary moratorium on new data centers. Community members made the request directly at a September 8 public-comment meeting.
Animals, Natural Resources & Environment
Civic Initiative
Public Testimony/Written Comments
Public Meeting/Town Hall Participation
Residents appealed permits, participated in hearings, emailed state officials and organized around obtaining a formal hearing before the Vermont Transportation Board regarding a proposed airstrip. More than 70 people attended a local forum that included public questions and comments.
Animals, Natural Resources & Environment
Public Testimony/Written Comments
Public Meeting/Town Hall Participation
Petition to Government or Business
Miami County residents formed a coalition with nearly 1,400 Facebook members, attended lengthy public meetings, displayed signs, publicized a recording of commissioners discussing data centers, and continued monitoring local government's decisions on data centers.
Animals, Natural Resources & Environment
Coalition Building/Community Organizing
Public Meeting/Town Hall Participation
Government Monitoring
Residents and members of environmental and community organizations rallied at City Hall and launched a campaign seeking a temporary citywide prohibition on new data centers.
Animals, Natural Resources & Environment
Coalition Building/Community Organizing
Peaceful Protest/Demonstration
Residents demonstrated outside a construction site where seven mature live oaks are slated for removal. They asked the developer to redesign the project and drew attention to the continuing loss of Tampa’s tree canopy.
Animals, Natural Resources & Environment
Coalition Building/Community Organizing
Peaceful Protest/Demonstration
At a town hall, the residents of a Michigan township located neat the University of Michigan expressed opposition to the university's proposed $1.2 billion, 100-megawatt computing center operated with Los Alamos National Laboratory. Residents raised concerns about noise, emissions, electricity costs, security and the lack of early community consultation. Township officials said the university initially described a much smaller project before acquiring another 124 acres; the university says the facility would support scientific research and economic development.
Animals, Natural Resources & Environment
Public Meeting/Town Hall Participation
A coalition of environmental, farm and social advocacy groups demonstrated outside the state capitol building calling on the governor to issue a multi-year moratorium on new data center development in the state.
Animals, Natural Resources & Environment
Coalition Building/Community Organizing
Peaceful Protest/Demonstration
