Teen Activists Protest 300,000-Square-Foot A.I. Data Center in California
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Aug 20
Teen Activists Protest 300,000-Square-Foot A.I. Data Center in California
2 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Aug 20
Summary
A planned 300,000-square-foot data center in Pittsburg, California, has drawn protests from local teenagers who say the project threatens nearby residents and students.
Sadie Cisneros, 17, said she became alarmed after learning the facility could consume large amounts of water, worsen air pollution and create constant noise less than half a mile from a middle school.
At a Pittsburg City Council meeting last month, Cisneros delivered a three-minute speech opposing the project, turning the proposal into a first major civic fight for some local students.
The Pittsburg campaign reflects a broader shift in youth activism, with some Gen Z organizers in California, Colorado, Texas and Virginia now targeting A.I. data centers as demand for computing power surges.