The Cacophony Behind Data Centers

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THE CACOPHONY BEHIND DATA CENTERS

Danny Helton

 

One of the benefits of living in a rural area is the peace and quiet. Indeed you wake up, look out the window at the forest and the dirt road leading to your place, and you take comfort in the fact that there is no one to bother you, and you can do whatever you want and not bother anyone else. Conversely, when I left the quiet solitude of the Oregonian wilderness and moved into the bustling metropolis called Portland, I was shocked at the constant and insane levels of noise created by city activity. Cars, machines and much more contribute to a mixture of perpetual clamoring. Even more than ten stories up one can be awoken from a light nap by the mindless shouting of a lone individual on the streets below.

Data centers are loud. They emit a constant hum of noise that permeates entire neighborhoods and contributes to increased health risks[i]. Many data centers use cooling systems, rather than direct water cooling, in order to prevent overheating. Gas turbines and diesel generators emit incredibly loud sounds much of the time, making life miserable for the people who live around them. Even noise-cancelling earphones have been proven ineffective against the constant hum and din[ii].

Additionally, even when entire communities vote against planting a data center in the midst of their neighborhood, these referendums are ignored, and entire communities have to deal with the health fallout, including respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular issues and dampened cognitive ability.

However, a “populist backlash over AI” is ongoing and increasing here in the United States, and protests are being organized even as we speak[iii]. If you wish to protect your community, and if you wish to fight against the dangers of unimpeded AI growth, now is the time to join and raise your voice. Here are some helpful links to help dealing with the noises caused by data centers, and to fight against the AI takeover.

VIDEO: How to Reduce Noise in Your Data Center

No Data Centers

$64 billion of data center projects have been blocked or delayed amid local opposition — Data Center Watch

MediaJustice-The-People-Say-No-Resisting-Data-Centers-Toolkit.pdf


[i] Smith-Schoenwalder, Cecelia “’Living in Hell’: Data Center Neighbors Grapple With Noise, Air Pollution.” April 28, 2026 'Living in Hell': Data Center Neighbors Grapple With Noise, Air Pollution | National News | U.S. News

[ii] Yanez-Barnuevo, Miguel “Communities Are Raising Noise Pollution Concerns About Data Centers” EESI, March 23, 2026 Communities Are Raising Noise Pollution Concerns About Data Centers | Article | EESI

[iii] Lissner, Rebecca “A Populist Backlash Over AI is Brewing in America” Time, February 6, 2026, A Populist Backlash Over AI is Brewing in America

Photo Link: https://wp.technologyreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/3D83KF4.jpg


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