data center

A facility used to house computer systems and associated components, such as telecommunications and storage systems. It generally includes redundant or backup power supplies, redundant data communications connections, environmental controls (e.g., air conditioning, fire suppression) and security devices. Large data centers are industrial scale operations using as much electricity as a small town and can be a significant source of air pollution in the form of diesel exhaust.

Historical perspective: In October 2012, huge Internet data centers which store and process everything from old emails to Facebook data to Google searches, used about 30 billion watts of electricity worldwide--equivalent to the output of 30 nuclear power plants. Only about 10 percent of that evergy powers actual computations; the rest keeps servers running around the clock, so as to avoid any slowdowns that would annoy users. 

In January 2025, OpenAI, Oracle, and SoftBank teamed up on an AI project with a combined investment of as much as $500 billion. Named Stargate, the three companies initially pledged $100 billion to start building out AI data centers in Texas, and the electricity-generation capacity they will require. 

By 2026, over 570 active local restrictions, zoning bans, or moratoriums existed across 46 states, and at least 50 local ballot measures across 13 states were voted on during the November 3, 2026 elections, where energy rates and data center rules became central political flashpoints amidst widespread backlash.