Power companies are using eminent domain to seize land for data centers
The rapid expansion of AI data centers in the US is leading to increased use of eminent domain by power companies to secure land for necessary transmission lines. While these facilities are deemed essential for national security, local communities are pushing back due to concerns over environmental impact and property rights.
Why it matters
It illustrates the physical infrastructure strain caused by the AI boom and the legal conflicts arising between private utility interests and public land rights.
The artificial intelligence boom in the United States is being matched by a data center building boom. There are more than 3,000 data centers in the U.S. and another 1,500 in development, according to a Pew Research Center analysis.
While President Donald Trump has promoted AI advancement , calling it crucial to economic and national security, polling shows that 7 in 10 Americans oppose the construction of AI data centers in their communities, citing higher utility bills, pollution, noise and the loss of green space. These centers, which hold computer servers that process words, images and lines of code for large language models such as ChatGPT, also use high amounts of water and electricity.
There is growing opposition to the infrastructure surrounding them, too, particularly the transmission lines needed to power them, which often must cross land belonging to private citizens.
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