I’m old enough (as are many of you) to remember UNIVAC, the huge computer which filled a whole room that correctly predicted President Eisenhower’s victory in 1952. But advances in technology have enabled us to hold in our hands a device that is many times more powerful and much faster than UNIVAC. According to the Pacific Standard, “…the iPhone in your pocket has over 100,000 times the processing power of the computer that landed man on the moon 50 years ago.”

In order for these tiny devices to perform all the everyday tasks that we’ve gotten used to, like checking the weather, getting the latest news, or saying “Hi” to Facebook friends, there needs to be a much larger presence in the world. You may have heard of saving things to “the cloud”. Well that cloud isn’t floating over our heads or out in space. It’s housed in a place that’s become very unpopular in our society – the data center.

First let’s get this straight. All data centers are not related to artificial intelligence (AI). Mostly data centers are warehouses for information. Except information isn’t stored in crates. It’s stored on servers which run day and night requiring electricity – a lot of it. Additionally, they need a “friendly” atmosphere, specifically the correct temperature, humidity, etc. Since they generate a lot of heat, they need to be cooled (which is done with water). So an immense supply of water is necessary. This water needs to be disposed of after it’s used. In addition to these physical needs of data centers, they also require connections to external networks and security appliances such as firewalls and intrusion protection. But storage is only part of its function. The data center also has computing and networking equipment that collects and processes data. It also distributes and enables access to resources.

Data centers are becoming more common. Using the old adage “It’s better to ask forgiveness than permission”, a lot of companies have swooped into areas and just started operating. But we still don’t have much substantiated information on the effects of data centers either on the environment or the population. Governing bodies are not given time to explore these issues or get input from the people who live in areas that will be affected by the centers. Areas that have been designated as “industrial” are up for grabs.

Since they’re relatively new, there isn’t a lot of information on their impact on the environment or living things. Consequently there are very few regulations governing them. Residents in many areas have brought lawsuits against the owners of data centers citing noise pollution, air pollution, health risks, resource depletion, declining property values, rising utility costs and traffic problems.

Monica Lynn from Erie County, a member of the group PA Data Center Resistance, claims, “The noise travels five miles from these centers. Farmers report that chickens are laying 50% less. Cattle are losing 30% of their body condition. Same with goats and sheep.” Lynn goes on to say a farmer in Texas reports he has not had a new calf in the two years since the nearby data center was built. “It has been nothing but still births. If it can do that to cattle, chickens, goats and sheep, what are the impacts on humans?” Lynn claims that data centers can cause heart murmurs, heart attacks, and early onset dementia.

Regulating data centers has generally been relegated to townships instead of larger governing areas like counties and states. But according to international law firm WilmerHale, “State and local regulation of data centers is rapidly expanding across numerous domains, including energy use, water consumption, environmental standards, zoning/siting, labor, and security, driven by the AI boom and the absence of comprehensive federal oversight; over 200 bills were introduced in 2025 alone, with momentum expected to continue in 2026.”

We need to slow down this process. We in central Pennsylvania have given so much: lumber, coal, gas, and now this. Wouldn’t it be prudent to make sure that we aren’t doing irreparable harm before forging ahead?

For more information you can go to Data Centers: A Guide to Common Questions (extension.psu.edu/data-centers-a-guide-to-common-questions) and Susquehanna River Basin Commission: www.srbc.gov/regulatory/data-centers/

Verna Caruso is a native of Muncy, who now resides in Williamsport. She is a former staff member at Inc. magazine and former Chair of the Lycoming County Democratic Committee.