AI data center protests erupt in Georgia and California

In Rockdale County, Georgia, a public meeting about a proposed AI data center turned contentious when residents began chanting “Vote her out!” at a county commissioner who supported the project. Attendees voiced concerns over land use, noise, infrastructure strain, and the potential for higher utility bills as AI workloads demand large amounts of electricity and water.

In the Bay Area, a 76‑acre AI data center planned for the East Bay suburb of Pittsburg faced a parallel backlash. Hundreds of locals attended a city‑council hearing, where high‑school activist Sadie Cisneros testified that the facility would consume massive energy, create heat islands and expose residents to diesel exhaust. Her testimony went viral, drawing support from Representative Alexandria Ocasio‑Cortez, who urged a national moratorium on new data centers. Despite the opposition, the Pittsburg city council voted 5‑0 to approve the project.