Erin Brockovich Criticizes Lack of Transparency in AI Data Center Proposals

Environmental activist Erin Brockovich has joined opposition to AI data centers, citing secrecy around project proposals. She appeared on a recent episode of The Jim Acosta Show and said communities feel shut out of decisions and that projects are being shoved down their throat in secrecy.

Brockovich said residents learn about projects in the proposal stage only to find that local officials are limited in what they can say because of nondisclosure agreements.

In some cases, she said, projects are presented as warehouses rather than data centers. "There's a lot of secrecy and NDAs at a very proposal stage," Brockovich said. That lack of transparency is fueling anger among residents who believe their concerns are being ignored, Brockovich stated.

She added that residents are not opposed to hearing difficult information but object to being excluded from the process. "I've worked in communities for 30 years," she said. " A massive data center project in Utah backed by Kevin O'Leary has sparked statewide opposition.

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox unveiled a new framework for data center development on Friday. "Utahns deserve confidence that water resources, air quality, utility rates, wildlife, and quality of life will be protected," Cox wrote in an X post.

Microsoft once relied on NDAs in the early stages of data center development. The company said earlier this year that it would stop requesting NDAs after local opposition. "We've made the decision that being transparent with the communities where we operate or seek to operate is paramount," Microsoft said.

Microsoft has adopted its own framework for building data centers called the Community-First AI Infrastructure Plan. The plan promises to pay for its own electricity, minimize water usage, and create local jobs.