On September 26, more than 1,000 people gathered in downtown Washington, D.C., for "Data After Dark: A Pro-Data Center Party," an event aimed at celebrating and promoting the construction of data centers amid growing public scrutiny. The event, initially planned as a small house party by organizer Jonas Du, a writer for Pirate Wires, expanded to a larger venue—a bitcoin-themed bar called PubKey—due to overwhelming interest.
Data centers, which house servers and networking equipment essential for hosting websites, cloud services, and digital communication, have become increasingly critical infrastructure amid the rise of artificial intelligence and digital economies. The United States currently operates over 3,000 data centers, many of which are large-scale facilities that can span hundreds of thousands to millions of square feet.
The sector’s rapid growth, however, has prompted criticism focused on environmental concerns, particularly water consumption and energy use. Opponents highlight the strain data centers place on local water supplies and power grids, as well as noise pollution from the facilities. In response, some companies have adopted closed-loop cooling technologies designed to reduce water use, with about 45% of U.S. data centers reportedly employing such systems. Critics also point to the often windowless, industrial design of data centers as a detriment to community aesthetics.
Supporters at the event argued that innovation is the appropriate response to these challenges. Du and others emphasized that halting data center construction could hamper U.S. competitiveness, particularly as the country seeks to maintain an edge over China in artificial intelligence development—a sector where China is investing heavily. The event’s participants included industry professionals, think tank members, attorneys, White House officials, and defense contractors.
The party featured themed cocktails, a generative AI photo booth, live music, and messaging that embraced techno-optimism. Organizers framed the event as a counter to rising public opposition to data centers. A recent poll indicated that 61% of likely U.S. voters oppose building new data centers, with opposition especially strong among younger voters, who made up a significant portion of the attendees.
Industry leaders at the event called for increased public education about the role and benefits of data centers, aligning their message with broader efforts to demystify artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure. For example, journalist Jasmine Sun highlighted the need for better understanding among the public, comparing data centers to widely understood industries like automotive manufacturing and solar energy.
Looking ahead, Young Voices CEO Casey Given announced plans to expand pro-data center events to cities such as New York, San Francisco, Miami, Austin, and Los Angeles in 2027, aiming to foster a nationwide dialogue.
While protests briefly interrupted the event, drawing critical attention to environmental concerns, the overall atmosphere remained optimistic. Participants expressed confidence in the future of data centers as vital components of modern economies, despite the ongoing debates over their environmental and community impacts.