Data center debate heats up | Arkansas Democrat Gazette

Data center debate heats up | Arkansas Democrat Gazette reports heightened community concern around data center operations in Lowell, Massachusetts, amid an eastern U.S. heat wave. Eileen Castle, 82, says she will not refill her nearby pool because the facility behind her house runs industrial air conditioners and backup diesel generators that she believes start “unexpectedly.” The article explains that summer electricity demand strains power grids and can worsen surrounding air quality, while server cooling and water needs add pressure. It cites University of California, Riverside professor Shaolei Ren, who warns that grid operators may request generator use as a “last line of defense” during stressed conditions. Diesel emissions can affect health even with short-term exposure, and frequent generator activation could damage local air quality. The piece notes the Markley Group planted more than 2,000 trees and frames the debate within a neighborhood designated as higher risk due to historically excluded populations.