Communities are Rethinking Their Push for Data Centers
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More governments are looking into the environmental effects of data centers on neighborhoods.
City and state governments are giving once-coveted data centers a second look.
Just over a year ago after its residents complained about the noise from data centers, Chandler, Arizona, proposed an amendment to its building code to tighten the approval process for new data centers, prohibiting them from building in areas outside already approved zones and requiring noise mitigation measures.
Now, the city has clarified zoning requirements for data centers. Under a zoning code amendment, the single-use facilities will only be permitted in specifically designated areas. The new rules also impose size limitations, address concerns about noise from both the data center and their backup generators and require increased information sharing with the local community.
"Data centers have evolved throughout the years from single-user facilities to larger multi-tenant facilities and transitioned from water-cooled to electrically-cooled facilities," the city noted in its announcement. "Due to those changes, there has been an increase in potential noise impacts to the surrounding neighborhoods."
Going forward, new data centers will require a sound study that establishes a noise baseline that must be shared with residents ahead of regularly scheduled neighborhood meetings. Once in operation, the data centers must conduct an annual noise survey during peak operations to ensure noise levels do not exceed baseline measurements. Routine maintenance and testing on backup generators must only be conducted during specific times and with community notification.
In Virginia, where data centers are the state's largest category of commercial energy users, Fairfax County’s Sen. Chap Petersen is also asking for more information on the long-term effects of local data centers. He called on the Department of Energy to study data centers’ influence on the commonwealth’s energy resources and usage, environment, economy and its ability to meet its carbon-reduction goals.
In addition, the resolution asks for an evaluation of the effects of cryptocurrency mining; the consequences data centers have on air quality, wildlife and water resources; and whether the tax incentives used to attract data centers fairly produce benefits across the state.
Peterson also proposed legislation that would restrict data center development to areas where there will be only a “minimal impact on historic, agricultural and cultural resources.”
