ACEN

Alberta is facing growing scrutiny over its rapid expansion of data centres, driven largely by demand from the artificial intelligence industry. Reports highlight the strain on local water supplies, electricity grids and natural gas resources, with rural communities and utilities caught up in the push. Critics frame it as an environmental reckoning, raising questions about whether the economic benefits outweigh the costs to land, water and climate commitments in the province.

New Jersey regulators have fined DataOne $1.1 million after dozens of unpermitted diesel generators were found at its Vineland datacenter. The state's largest-ever air quality penalty followed a visual investigation by Floodlight and the Guardian, which documented the equipment running without permits. The case has drawn attention to the environmental footprint and regulatory oversight of rapidly expanding datacenter infrastructure.

Datacenter developers in the United States are facing accusations that they are circumventing key pollution regulations. According to reporting by The Guardian, the rapid buildout of datacenter infrastructure may be exploiting gaps or exemptions in environmental rules, raising concerns among regulators and communities about air, water and emissions impacts as the industry expands at pace.