Many Americans oppose the construction of data centers near their homes, citing concerns about environmental impact, energy costs, and quality of life. The NAACP, with support from organizations like Earthjustice and the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC), has sued x AI (now Space XAI) over alleged illegal operation of methane gas turbines for its Colossus 2 data center, citing potential air pollution and noise disturbances. Residents near facilities have reported noise levels significantly exceeding EPA recommendations, impacting sleep and daily life. Water contamination from construction projects has also been an issue.

Collective action is crucial for communities to challenge data center projects. Advocacy efforts focus on establishing "guardrails" that require companies to consult communities before construction, such as mandating advance notice and public input through land use ordinances. Opponents advise against "by-right" permitting, which allows projects to proceed without significant community review. It's recommended to start organizing early, monitoring utility and grid changes, and filing public records requests to understand project plans.

Successful strategies include advocating for special-use permitting requirements, which force companies to obtain specific authorization and engage in upfront discussions about mitigating community concerns. The SELC's Amanda Garcia emphasizes that collaborative development, addressing issues like clean energy and noise reduction, is more effective than imposing projects on unwilling communities. Natalie Behring notes that spending on data center construction surpassed $50 billion in April.