호주의 데이터센터 급속 확장에 대비하며 그리드 부하와 환경 영향에 대한 지역사회 우려와 전문가 경고가 제기되고 있다.

As a dominatrix drag queen strides through a crowd determined to confront corporate greed, she uses theatrical force to push aside actors portraying the tech giants locals blame for soaring power prices. This unusual display of performance art aims to energize frustrated residents of North Carolina on the U.S. East Coast, who argue that data centres are driving up their electricity bills even before construction begins. In June, hundreds of community members gathered on the front steps of a Durham courthouse to voice concerns over a proposed 18 per cent rise in their electricity costs, which they attribute to new infrastructure required for data centres. Led by local activists The Raging Grannies, the crowd sang in chorus: "The people or the parasites, which side are you on? We're singing to you profiteers so hear us loud and clear. We won't stand idly by while you kill all that we hold dear."

The demonstration underscores widespread opposition to what protesters describe as corporate greed. However, resistance to data centres in the United States extends beyond environmental and public health concerns. The rally also highlighted ideological objections, including fears over the storage of surveillance material and artificial intelligence displacing human workers. These debates centre on an industry that has expanded from approximately 3,000 facilities in 2021 to roughly 4,000 by 2026, according to the World Resources Institute.

The Drag Down Our Electric Bills Rally drew hundreds of peaceful demonstrators who placed responsibility for rising utility costs squarely on big tech. Duke Energy, the privately owned utility that generates and supplies electricity to consumers, recently applied to the North Carolina utilities commissioner for permission to raise rates by 18 per cent. Prior to the repeal of tax incentives in July, data centre operators in North Carolina were exempt from paying taxes on their electricity consumption—a financial drawcard designed to attract investment. The state now hosts approximately 90 data centres and has successfully lured major firms such as Apple, Meta, and Google south of Virginia, traditionally considered the nation’s data centre capital. Nevertheless, the actual electricity price increases remain under negotiation and await final approval from the utilities commission.

Local science teacher Carl Hintz participated in the protest, highlighting how projected demand is already affecting consumers. "This electric company is making the argument they need to produce even more electricity to be able to power these data centres," he said. "Even though these data centres haven't been built yet, it's already impacting people with higher electricity bills because of the anticipation that it might be built."

Concerns extend well beyond North Carolina. Lynne Taylor lives two hours away in Charlotte, where approximately 35 data centres currently operate, according to the international Data Center Map. She expressed worry about regional facilities encroaching on agricultural land, alongside broader issues regarding noise, public health, and environmental degradation. Taylor also opposes the potential for AI to replace human labour. "What we have learned in America is that [you're] more likely to get kicked by a kangaroo than see any real economic gain for citizens," she said. "The developers of data centres promise many jobs for humans, but frankly, the majority of jobs are not being fulfilled."

As Australia prepares to connect additional data centres to its electricity grid and water supplies, residents and academics in the United States are urging policymakers to heed American experiences. According to the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), there are currently 165 data centres operating across the country, with another 225 in development. By 2036, AEMO projects that data centres will account for 13 per cent of national power consumption. Industry advocates argue this presents a strategic opportunity to capitalise on companies seeking rapid deployment timelines and substantial capital expenditure. With 225 new facilities in development nationwide, the sector’s expansion is accelerating.

Eric Masanet, a professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara, specialising in emerging technologies, advises that the Australian government could learn from U.S. precedents by legislating for greater corporate accountability. "One challenge we faced in the US is that data centre builds are being announced every week, they're huge, but they're behind a veil of secrecy," Professor Masanet said. "There's very little transparency between the industry and the communities that will host these data centres and the policymakers who are either working with the industry or seeking to regulate them." He noted that this opacity fuels community resistance. "They don't know how much water, how much air pollution will be associated with that data centre down the street because the companies won't share the data," he explained. "It's often hidden behind a non-disclosure agreement and if local officials are aware, they've entered into these NDAs where they're not sharing with the public."

Professor Masanet’s laboratory monitors emerging U.S. policies related to data centres. He observes that regulatory approaches vary widely, with some states implementing strict bans or moratoriums while others, like Texas, offer incentives without adequate safeguards, leaving little middle ground. He believes Australia should adopt a firm regulatory stance while maximising investments in renewable energy. The federal government has already introduced rules mandating that data centres fund new renewable energy generation to offset their consumption, though Queensland and the Northern Territory retain exemptions allowing fossil fuel usage. While construction phases can generate hundreds of jobs, ongoing operations typically require only a small team, depending on facility size.

Simon Currie, founder of the energy strategy firm Energy Estate, argues that Australia should strategically leverage developer enthusiasm to build long-term economic resilience. "How do we leverage this to deliver on all of the other things that we need to build out the economy for the next 50 to 100 years?" Mr Currie asked. He emphasised that facilities must be sited near reliable power grids and suggested that data centres could help finance Victoria’s renewable energy transition. "They want the power, we want offshore wind," he said, referencing the state’s plans to develop an offshore wind industry. "How about we twin things together?"

Addressing community concerns about noise and resource consumption, Mr Currie recommends mandating investment in advanced technology, which he says could distinguish silent, efficient facilities from noisy, resource-intensive ones. He also proposes co-locating data centres with industries that require waste heat, potentially stimulating manufacturing and employment. "We've got food insecurity and we're losing food manufacturers because they were used to cheap gas," he noted. "How do we use industries like data centres to lever in and support other industries?" Newsgathering for this story occurred as part of a study tour funded through a Rural Press Club of Victoria scholarship.