Erin Brockovich Advocates for Increased Transparency in Data Center Operations

Environmental advocate Erin Brockovich has introduced a new initiative focused on improving transparency regarding the creation of data centers and their impact on nearby communities.

Brockovich, who became well-known thanks to Julia Roberts’ portrayal of her legal struggles against Pacific Gas & Electric, has launched a website featuring a map that tracks data centers across the United States.

This map is described as a “work in progress,” continuously updated based on community feedback about data centers. In a recent update on Substack, Brockovich shared that after responding to local concerns in April, she garnered nearly 4,000 replies within just the first month.

“The main concern — surpassing issues like noise, water usage, and rising utility bills — can be summed up in one word that frequently emerged in the responses: transparency,” she noted.

Brockovich stressed that she is not issuing a “blanket statement against data centers” or AI, but is focusing on “the patterns evident in our map: announcements of projects happening only after permits have been granted, developers ignoring inquiries, and local officials signing NDAs before communities are informed about proposed developments.”