European Commission accused of concealing data center resource usage

The non-profit organization Lighthouse Reports has filed a complaint against the European Commission, accusing the bloc of concealing the actual energy and water consumption of individual data centers. The organization alleges that the Commission is creating a “wall of silence” by implementing rules that restrict public access to environmental data, potentially violating international obligations under the Aarhus Convention.

Investigations suggest widespread opacity across the 27 EU member states. In the Netherlands, for example, out of 186 data centers with a capacity of 500 kilowatts or more, fewer than 25% publicly disclosed their electricity consumption. The European Commission has previously rejected requests for environmental reports, citing the need to protect sensitive commercial information from industrial espionage.

The complaint faces its first procedural test in November, when the Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee will decide whether to accept the case. This comes as the EU aims to triple its data center capacity to compete with the US and China, even as rising energy prices and environmental concerns fuel public opposition to these energy-intensive facilities.