Neighbors vs Data Centers

How women in Ohio are pushing back

This week on the pod, we talked to two women in Ohio who have been fighting back against an Amazon data center in their neighborhood.

Cathy has been doing environmental advocacy for many years, and young mom Annette has only recently gotten involved, but they both agreed that it was only through the help of one another—and their entire community—that they’ve been able to make a difference.

But let’s back up, shall we? We’ve heard the term “data center” thrown around a lot lately, but many of us don’t know exactly what one even is, let alone why it would be harmful to our neighborhood. Cathy and Annette did a great job of explaining what they are, how swiftly they can be built (often without neighbors even being informed), and why we should be concerned.

It’s not just the water use, it’s also the toxic fumes. Annette says that the data center in her neighborhood went from just storing computers to being a full-on power plant with no warning. And Cathy explained how recent legislation in Ohio is allowing these centers to be approved within just 45 days. The process used to take one to three years.

As always, we heard that our relationships with one another aren’t just the key to effective action. They’re also the key to not losing our sh!t.

If you’re worried about a data center being built in your area, or you just want to know more, don’t miss this episode!