Virginia Residents Rebel Against Data Centre Amid Trump-China Claims
The residents of Sterling, northern Virginia are at odds with their local data centre, which they say is causing noise pollution and health issues. The facility, owned by Vantage, was approved in March 2023, but its operators added eight gas turbines to power it while waiting for a connection to the electrical grid. This decision was made without consulting the residents, who claim that the company reneged on its promise of minimal impacts on their quality of life.
US President Donald Trump has blamed China for community pushback against data centres in the US, but local residents dispute this claim. They say that their concerns are genuine and relate to everyday issues such as noise pollution, emissions, and broken promises. Jessica Medeiros, a resident of Sterling, was diagnosed with dry eyes due to the facility's security lights shining through her window.
Experts argue that China's influence operations can be difficult to identify because they mask the origins of their content. The Bitcoin Policy Institute (BPI), a Washington-based think tank, has released two reports accusing China of trying to slow down the US data centre buildout by funding US climate nonprofits and protests. However, ASPI's Bethany Allen says that these reports are examples of how certain US industry interests are weaponising Chinese influence claims to smear local grass-roots opposition.