As the development of large-scale data centers continues to be pushed in rural areas, many communities across the nation have one major question: what is the long-term impact on the local environment? University of Illinois environmental science student Bruce Beam says the discussion extends far beyond economics and development.
Many migratory birds also depend on the Midwest as they make stops on their journeys every year. Beam said the proposed data center sites could cause migratory birds to miss out on their usual foraging habitats.
Noise pollution is another concern for communities, but it could be even worse for local wildlife. Beam said the constant sounds from data centers could cause behavioral shifts in the local wildlife.
Organizations like the American Farm Bureau Federation are also encouraging rural communities to be conscious of the potential downsides of building data centers in their areas.
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