Erin Brockovich, the environmental activist widely recognized for her involvement in a landmark legal case depicted in the 2000 film bearing her name, has turned her attention to the growing concerns surrounding data centers across the United States. Over the past several months, she has documented and mapped environmental complaints linked to these facilities, which support the technological infrastructure of major companies such as Google and Amazon.

Earlier this year, Brockovich observed a surge in messages from communities nationwide reporting issues connected to data centers either under construction or proposed in their areas. Many of these complaints highlight worries about pollution, strains on local power grids, and water usage, raising significant environmental and public health questions. In response, she developed an online interactive map to track these grievances, compiling them into an accessible national overview.

Within three days of its launch, the map drew submissions from every state, expanding to over 9,200 recorded complaints. Texas leads with the highest number of concerns, followed by Ohio and Virginia. The complaints detail a range of environmental challenges including increased emissions, water resource depletion, and disruptions to local ecosystems, reflecting broader tensions between technological growth and sustainability.

Brockovich identifies the proliferation of data centers as an emerging environmental issue, one that has become a focal point in policy discussions ahead of the upcoming U.S. midterm elections. In an interview, she called for a temporary halt to new data center projects, advocating for comprehensive studies to assess their cumulative effects on community resources before further expansion continues.

Proponents of data center development argue these facilities are essential to advancing digital innovation and maintaining economic competitiveness. However, the rapid pace of construction and the significant resource demands of these operations have triggered debates regarding appropriate regulatory oversight and the need for balanced growth that prioritizes environmental stewardship.

As concerns escalate, public officials and candidates in several states are increasingly addressing the implications of data center growth in their platforms, signaling a shift toward more scrutiny of the tech infrastructure’s environmental impact. Brockovich’s mapping initiative aims to amplify community voices and facilitate informed dialogue between industry, policymakers, and residents affected by these developments.