Never Cool Enough: Legal and Policy Challenges to Keeping Data Centers and Communities Empowered in a Warming World

Authors

• Cristina M. Banahan
• Diana B. Wilkinson

Author Details

Cristina M. Banahan, M.A. candidate, Columbia University’s Climate & Society program.

First Page

267

Abstract

In a rapidly evolving world, artificial intelligence (AI) and cryptocurrency are two technologies at the forefront of the future. Although these developments promise many potential societal benefits and revenue, they come with a price. The data processing required to operate these new technologies demands a large amount of energy, using water to cool the systems and enable them to run without overheating. With such high water and energy demands, the benefits from these technological advancements come at a steep environmental cost. Despite the negative environmental impacts of these data centers, the Trump Administration continues to roll back environmental protections. The social impacts from data centers are being felt from communities bearing the economic costs and everyday impacts. This Essay examines the benefits, environment costs, community impacts, and potential policy solutions to the increasing expansion of data centers.

Recommended Citation

Cristina M. Banahan & Diana B. Wilkinson, Never Cool Enough: Legal and Policy Challenges to Keeping Data Centers and Communities Empowered in a Warming World, 30 Lewis & Clark L. Rev. 267 (2026).
Available at: https://lawcommons.lclark.edu/lclr/vol30/iss2/2