Piaseczno data center construction protests

Residents near Warsaw have raised concerns regarding the construction of a large-scale data center on Energetyczna Street, near the border of Piaseczno and Józefosław. The project, led by Sien Real, involves four buildings totaling approximately 18,000 square meters. Initial community alarms focused on potential water shortages, noting that the facility’s estimated daily requirement of 286 cubic meters could exacerbate existing issues with low water pressure in the area.

As the situation progressed, local protests expanded to include concerns over heat generation and noise pollution. Tensions increased due to resident claims that they were only notified of the project when construction began in August. While the Piaseczno Municipal Office noted that environmental permits were issued in April 2024 following an expanded decision procedure, Mayor Daniel Putkiewicz has promised meetings between the community and the investor to address the growing opposition. Further anxiety has been fueled by the potential for a second data center project within the same industrial zone.

Conflict has escalated over allegations of a lack of transparency. While local authorities maintain that legal obligations for public notification were fulfilled via official government websites and local newspapers, residents and local housing cooperative leaders claim they were “effectively kept in the dark.” To resolve the impasse, Mayor Putkiewicz has committed to organizing a meeting involving residents, the investor (Sien Real), and technical experts to specifically address concerns regarding acoustics, water management, and cooling systems.

Following a meeting with the investor, residents expressed continued fears regarding noise pollution from cooling fans and potential water shortages. Although Budimex spokesperson Marcin Graczyk assured the community that acoustic screens would be utilized and water consumption would remain within environmental limits, residents reported that the meeting failed to provide concrete technical answers to their doubts. Construction on the four-hectare site has already commenced.