Data Center Proposals Spark Community Concerns Across Multiple US Locations

Communities across various U.S. and South African regions are raising concerns about the impact of proposed data centers and affordable housing developments. In Coweta, Oklahoma, residents are worried about noise, pollution, and transparency related to a planned data center near their homes, emphasizing the need for financial incentives to enforce regulations. Similarly, in Springdale Borough, Pennsylvania, opposition to a hyperscale AI data center centers on noise, water usage, power grid strain, and quality of life, prompting local councils to delay final decisions for further study. In Virginia, experts and residents highlight the massive energy consumption of modern data centers, with some complexes using power comparable to small cities, and call for stronger regulatory measures. Meanwhile, in Cape Town, South Africa, residents of Woodstock demand clarity and a greater share of social housing in mixed-use developments on public land to ensure affordability and community benefit. These cases reflect growing public scrutiny over the environmental, social, and economic impacts of large-scale infrastructure projects in their neighborhoods.