Erin Brockovich
vs. the Data Centers
The woman who took on PG&E — and won — is now tracking AI data centers across America. With nearly 4,000 community reports and an interactive national map, Brockovich is demanding transparency before corporations drain our water, spike our energy bills, and move on.
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The single most common concern — more than noise, more than water usage, more than rising utility bills — is the one word that keeps appearing in submission after submission: transparency.— Erin Brockovich, Substack, May 2026
~4,000
Community Reports
Submitted to her platform
139+
Data Center Sites
Tracked nationwide
50
States Represented
Reports in nearly all 50
$333M
PG&E Settlement
Largest direct-action in history
What She's Fighting
Six Environmental Threats
from the AI Data Center Boom
Millions of gallons/day
Water Consumption
A single hyperscale AI data center can consume millions of gallons of water daily for cooling systems — straining local aquifers, rivers, and municipal supplies, often in drought-prone regions.
4.4% of U.S. electricity
Energy Drain
U.S. data centers consumed 176 terawatt-hours in 2023 — more than double 2018 levels. Carnegie Mellon estimates this could raise average household electricity bills by 8% by 2030.
Millions of tons annually
E-Waste Crisis
Rapid AI hardware upgrade cycles generate enormous volumes of electronic waste. Much of it contains toxic heavy metals that leach into groundwater when improperly disposed.
24/7 industrial hum
Noise Pollution
Constant noise from cooling towers, diesel generators, and electrical substations disrupts sleep, depresses property values, and harms wildlife in surrounding neighborhoods.
Rural communities targeted
Community Displacement
Companies increasingly target rural and lower-income communities for sites — areas with cheaper land, fewer regulations, and residents who may have less political capital to push back.
#1 complaint from residents
Lack of Transparency
Brockovich's platform has received nearly 4,000 community reports. The most cited concern: residents weren't told about planned data centers until construction had already begun.
The Water Connection
How Data Centers Threaten Your Drinking Water
Data centers don't just drain water — their infrastructure can actively contaminate local groundwater through chemical leaks, improper disposal, and aging cooling systems.
Cooling Water Contamination
Cooling tower water is treated with biocides, corrosion inhibitors, and scale control chemicals. Discharge and overflow can carry these compounds into stormwater and groundwater systems.
Emergency Diesel Generators
Large data centers maintain thousands of gallons of diesel fuel on-site. Spills, leaks, and improper storage can contaminate soil and shallow aquifers — the same aquifers many rural communities depend on.
Strained Municipal Supplies
When a hyperscale facility taps into a municipal water system, it can lower pressure for residential customers, stress treatment infrastructure, and increase costs passed on to local households.
Aquifer Depletion
In water-stressed western states like Arizona and Utah, data centers compete directly with agriculture and residential users for limited groundwater. Once an aquifer is depleted, recovery can take decades.
Explore Our Data Center Water Analysis
See exactly how much water the top 5 cloud companies consume — by the gallon, per GB, and per Olympic pool.
Her Journey
30+ Years of Fighting for Clean Water
2021
Superman's Not Coming
Publishes her book documenting America's water crisis — from Flint, Michigan to Camp Lejeune — and calling for citizen-led action when government oversight fails.
2024
Georgia PFAS Investigations
Leads town halls in Dalton, Georgia on PFAS contamination linked to the carpet industry. Warns communities that the problem extends well beyond one city.
2026
AI Data Center Tracking
Launches brockovichdatacenter.com — an interactive map tracking 139+ data center sites (33 operational, 67 under construction, 39 proposed) with nearly 4,000 community-submitted reports.
Press & Coverage
Latest News & Articles
Erin Brockovich is pushing data centers to be more transparent
Data centers are booming in the US. Erin Brockovich is tracking them.
Erin Brockovich pushing for data center transparency as AI booms
In Rural Montana, a Rancher Takes On a 5,000-Acre AI Data Center
Liberals and Conservatives Are Finding Common Ground — Against Data Centers
Maine Moves to Ban New AI Data Centers Over Energy Grid Concerns
If Data Centers Are So Great, Why Are They Hiding?
Erin Brockovich: "You have a PFAS contamination and it's a big one"
Take Action
Join the Movement
Three ways to make your voice heard on data centers and water protection — right now.
Report a Data Center
Submit concerns to Brockovich's national reporting platform and add your location to her map.
Report NowContact Your Officials
Use our advocacy tools to send pre-written letters demanding clean water protections from your representatives.
Take ActionSee Our Data Center Map
Explore water stress overlays and data center locations on our interactive platform map.
View Map"
Transparency means notifying residents before decisions are made, not after. It means public hearings with real, complete information about energy consumption, water use, noise levels, and effects on local infrastructure.— Erin Brockovich
Disclaimer: This page aggregates publicly available news and quotes attributed to Erin Brockovich. ZeroPPB Alliance is not affiliated with Erin Brockovich or brockovichdatacenter.com. We share this work because it aligns with our mission of water transparency and community protection.