Rising energy costs, unfair burdens on frontline communities, and backsliding on our climate goals. All that and more is coming, unless we do something about it.
In the Pacific Northwest, the power needed for data centers is threatening our state’s capacity to meet decarbonization mandates, and increasing demand could push rising costs onto consumers. The scale of extraction and consumption required to sustain this demand is alarming, especially considering the ways that states like Washington are moving full-speed ahead by developing expedited permitting processes that do not require meaningful engagement with affected communities* or an analysis of how a facility can contribute to disproportionate impacts.
In light of these concerns, Front and Centered and Indigenous Just Transition hosted a panel earlier this week, coinciding with the National Congress of American Indians’ 82nd Convention and featuring Johnny Buck of Indigenous Just Transition, Krystal Two Bulls with Honor the Earth, and Jordan Harmon and Mary Crowe from Indigenous Environmental Network. The event also included an open round table discussion with all participants and interactive stations to highlight the perspectives of Indigenous and frontline leaders from across the country about the ways that data centers and artificial intelligence are impacting our communities.
The convening highlighted important questions about the future of data centers, including:
- What does Free, Prior, and Informed Consent look like for Indigenous communities when it comes to the development of data centers across the country?
- Who gets to make decisions about the land, water, and air so integral to our collective survival?
- How can Indigenous and frontline communities advocate for equitable access to information when developers lack the incentive or necessary requirements to force disclosure?
- What are the structural and political dynamics that are important for Tribal nations and frontline communities to understand?
In current mainstream conversations about data centers, there is often a focus on tax incentives, technological innovations, and the potential for economic gain. However, if we look at the long history of endeavors that prioritized the advancement of militaristic, political, or financial interests, it is always the well-being of Indigenous, Black, immigrant, refugee, and/or low-income communities that is sacrificed. Tribal communities like the Wanapum were forcibly displaced in the 1940s to build nuclear production facilities. The Standing Rock Sioux had no say over the authorization of the Dakota Access Pipeline to be built a half mile upstream from their reservation, subjecting their communities to land and water contamination. It is impossible to ignore the ways current data center development practices mirror these past harms by treating Tribal land as a commodity and Tribes as expendable.
“How could we dream, build, and learn together if we didn’t have to spend so much of our time and energy to convince others of what we know to be an inherent truth—that clean air, water, and land is a human right?”
Download our informational posters!
Want a closer look at the fact posters we shared at the event? You can download them here:
- Regular quality (for sharing/viewing online)
- Print quality (3.5 MB)
Disrupting the systems that have inflicted centuries of violence on Indigenous communities requires a discussion about the future of data centers that is grounded in the clear priorities of Indigenous leadership, their communities and the ways in which they are often starkly opposed to developers’ priorities. What would our communities look like if we recognized the importance of salmon and protected their habitat from runoff pollution caused by data system cooling systems? How would it feel to use land that was prioritized for nuclear power plants for community-owned agriculture where our youth can form a tangible connection to ancestral foods and farming practices? How could we dream, build, and learn together if we didn’t have to spend so much of our time and energy to convince others of what we know to be an inherent truth—that clean air, water, and land is a human right?
The future regulatory landscape around data centers in Washington State will be subject to the findings and recommendations of the Governor’s Data Center Workgroup, new legislation from Olympia, and the work of state agencies responsible for the protection of ratepayers, natural resources, and frontline communities. Yet two things remains clear—a Just Transition cannot be achieved without centering the priorities of Indigenous and frontline communities, and the processes that determine how, where, and when data centers are developed should not replicate the same colonial practices that prioritize the valuation of wealth above everything else.
As we continue our advocacy work around data centers, we are committed to moving forward in a way that is rooted in the valuable lessons shared from our panelists. This means advocating for:
- More comprehensive information around potential impacts of data centers to be shared with stakeholders in a way that is accessible and transparent.
- Impacted communities to be involved in decision making at all levels and phases of project development. Often consultation occurs too late in the process, without sufficient context, or not at all.
- Solidarity with other Indigenous and frontline communities in Washington State and across the US, so we can build networks that keep us informed and connected on data center development and the sources of energy used to power them.
Our convening was the beginning of many future discussions and collaborations, and we are so grateful to our panelists and guests for making this such a meaningful event!
To stay up to date on our work around data centers and clean energy development, join our mailing list and keep an eye out for updates on our website and blog.
* Ecology is proposing a general order for data centers with regard to diesel generator emissions near East Wenatchee, Malaga, and Quincy. A general order would require specific conditions and compliance measures be met and creates a group permit for multiple sources of commercial air pollution. It would also exempt these facilities from individual environmental review through a SEPA environmental impact statement, which has formalized public participation requirements.