Palmetto Futures Receives Funding for Data Center Community Preparedness and Environmental Justice Initiative
Palmetto Futures has received funding from the NC Black Alliance to launch the Data Center Community Preparedness and Environmental Justice Initiative, a new project designed to help North Carolina communities better understand and participate in decisions surrounding the rapid growth of data center development.
As demand for artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and other digital services continues to drive new infrastructure investment, communities are increasingly encountering questions about how large-scale data centers may affect electricity demand, water resources, air quality, noise, land use, and quality of life. These issues can be particularly important for communities that already experience environmental and infrastructure burdens. The initiative will help ensure that residents have access to understandable, fact-based information and meaningful opportunities to identify the issues that matter most to their communities.
The Data Center Community Preparedness and Environmental Justice Initiative builds on Palmetto Futures' broader work to strengthen community capacity, increase access to environmental information, and support meaningful public participation in decisions affecting environmental health and quality of life.
The growth of data centers is creating a new set of environmental and infrastructure questions for communities across North Carolina. Our goal is to make sure residents have the information and tools they need to understand what is being proposed, identify the issues that matter to their communities, and participate meaningfully in decisions that may affect where they live.
Additional information about upcoming workshops and opportunities to participate will be announced as the project gets underway.
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