Title: Erin Brockovich Targets Lack of Clarity in Data Center Development

Environmental advocate Erin Brockovich has embarked on a new initiative focused on increasing openness regarding the construction of data centers and their effects on adjacent neighborhoods. Best known for her portrayal by Julia Roberts in a movie based on her lawsuit against Pacific Gas & Electric, Brockovich recently unveiled an online platform featuring a map of data centers throughout the United States. She characterizes this tool as an evolving project, populated with information shared by community members who have reported on local facilities.

In a recent Substack article, Brockovich revealed that her appeal for reports concerning data center problems, issued in April, yielded almost 4,000 responses within the initial 30 days. She noted that while issues such as noise, water consumption, and higher utility costs are present, they are secondary to the primary grievance. “Transparency” was the recurring theme in nearly every submission, overshadowing all other concerns.

Brockovich clarified that her efforts are not intended to condemn data centers or artificial intelligence as a whole. Instead, she is highlighting a specific trend documented by her map: developments that are publicized only after permits have been finalized, contractors who ignore communications, and municipal leaders who sign nondisclosure agreements before residents are even aware that a project is under consideration.

Source: TechCrunch Generated at: 2026-05-31 21:05:14 UTC