EU data center environmental transparency dispute

The European Commission is facing scrutiny over the transparency of resource consumption by data centers. The non-profit organization Lighthouse Reports filed a complaint alleging the Commission is creating a “wall of silence” by restricting public access to energy and water usage data, which may violate the Aarhus Convention. Investigations indicated significant opacity in member states, such as the Netherlands, where fewer than 25% of large-capacity data centers publicly disclosed electricity consumption.

Following these allegations, four PASOK Members of the European Parliament submitted a formal inquiry to the Commission. The MEPs raised concerns regarding the projected 70% increase in European data center electricity consumption by 2030 and the potential for infrastructure upgrade costs to be shifted onto citizens and small businesses. The inquiry specifically requests that the Commission mandate the publication of individual facility metrics, including power, water usage, and efficiency, rather than providing only aggregate data.

Additionally, lawmakers have requested information on how water consumption will be managed in regions experiencing drought or water stress.