Austrian Greens demand environmental checks for large data centers

Süleyman Zorba, the digital and network policy spokesperson for the Austrian Green Party, is calling for mandatory environmental impact assessments (EIA) for large-scale data centers. This demand follows reports of a second planned data center in Leopoldsdorf, located near an existing facility operated by the US company CloudHQ.

Zorba criticized the current lack of transparency regarding the expansion of data center infrastructure in Austria, noting that many projects are only revealed through media reports. He argued that projects of this magnitude should be required to disclose data on electricity consumption, land use, noise, and waste heat from the outset.

Currently, the Austrian Environmental Impact Assessment Act does not classify data centers as a specific project type, regardless of their size. Zorba is advocating for a legislative amendment to close this gap, citing a study that suggests mandatory assessments should be required for facilities with a connection capacity of 50 megawatts or more, or 20 megawatts if they utilize cooling water.