A new interactive map is making it easier than ever to see where data centers are being built and how local governments are responding. Created by University of Washington student Isabelle Reksopuro, the map combines information from Epoch AI with scraped legislation to provide a real-time snapshot of data center construction and AI policy across the globe.
Reksopuro, who studies the connections between tech and public policy, was inspired to build the tool after learning about a controversy in her home state of Oregon. In The Dalles, a small city near the Washington border, Google operates a sprawling data center campus that already consumes about one-third of the city's water supply. The city subsequently sought ownership of a 150-acre portion of Mount Hood National Forest, claiming it needed access to the watershed for municipal growth. Critics, including environmentalists, argued the real motive was to secure more water for Google. This kind of opaque maneuvering motivated Reksopuro to make data center information accessible to everyone.
The map, which updates itself four times daily using the AI model Claude, searches for new sources and checks them against an existing database. When new information is found, it writes a summary and populates a news feed sidebar. “I wanted it to be self-updating, since I’m also a student,” Reksopuro said. She designed the interface to be simple enough for her younger sisters to use, hoping to shift their understanding away from viral TikTok rumors toward verified facts.
Data centers are massive facilities that house thousands of servers, consuming enormous amounts of electricity and water. They form the backbone of the internet, powering everything from streaming services to artificial intelligence models. However, their rapid proliferation has sparked backlash in communities around the world. Critics point out that after the initial construction phase, data centers bring few permanent jobs and often strain local resources. In many parts of the United States, they have driven electricity costs to record highs, according to reports from Bloomberg.
Opposition to data centers is one of the few issues that unites Americans across party lines, but the public response is far from uniform. Reksopuro’s map reveals stark regional differences. Maine, for example, recently saw a fierce backlash that led to the first state-level moratorium on hyperscale data centers in April. The legislation was later vetoed by Governor Janet Mills, but the debate highlighted deep concerns. In contrast, Texas has enthusiastically embraced data centers, offering more than $1 billion in tax breaks each year. “Texas is a huge fan of data centers,” Reksopuro noted. The state passed a tax exemption specifically for these facilities, a policy that has attracted major tech investments but also drawn criticism from advocates who argue the subsidies outweigh the benefits.
The map allows users to explore policies by region, from proposed legislation to established laws. It also highlights local controversies, such as community protests over water usage in drought-prone areas and debates over land use in rural communities. In some parts of Europe, strict environmental regulations have slowed data center development, while in Asia, governments are racing to build capacity for AI workloads. Reksopuro’s tool aims to make these disparities visible, helping people understand what is happening in their own backyards and how it compares to global trends.
Reksopuro told The Verge that she is not against data centers per se, but believes tech giants benefit from a lack of transparency. “Right now, it’s this really opaque thing — and all of a sudden, there’s a facility,” she said. “I think that if people knew about data centers beforehand, it would give them leverage. They would be able to negotiate: ask for job training programs, tax revenue, environmental monitoring, things to improve their community.”
The map is part of a broader movement to increase accountability in the tech industry. As artificial intelligence drives demand for ever more computing power, data centers are multiplying at an unprecedented rate. The International Energy Agency estimates that data centers could consume up to 20% of global electricity by 2030, up from about 1% today. This has prompted calls for better planning and community engagement. Tools like Reksopuro’s map represent a grassroots effort to democratize information that has traditionally been locked away in corporate reports and municipal filings.
The interactive interface includes a timeline feature that shows how policies have evolved over time. Users can filter by type of policy—such as tax incentives, moratoriums, or environmental impact assessments—and see which regions are most active. The map also includes news articles from local sources, giving context to the raw data. For example, a recent controversy in Virginia, where data centers have proliferated in the rural countryside, illustrates the tension between economic development and environmental protection. The map shows that Virginia has no statewide moratorium, but several counties have imposed their own restrictions.
Reksopuro’s work has already gained attention from policymakers and activists. She hopes the map will become a standard resource for journalists, researchers, and community organizers. “If you know what’s coming, you can prepare,” she said. “You can have a voice before the bulldozers arrive.” The map is freely accessible online and updates continuously, ensuring that users always have the latest information.
The tool also provides data on water usage and energy consumption for many facilities, gathered from public records and company reports. This allows users to see the environmental impact of specific data centers. For instance, the Google campus in The Dalles not only consumes a third of the city’s water but also draws significant amounts of electricity from the local grid. The map highlights this and other similar cases, empowering residents to ask tough questions of developers and local officials.
In addition to the map itself, Reksopuro has compiled a database of more than 500 data center projects around the world, each with details on size, operator, status, and associated policies. She plans to expand the project to include more granular data on employment and tax revenue, giving communities a fuller picture of what a data center means for their local economy.
The response to the map has been overwhelmingly positive. Tech policy experts have praised it for filling a critical gap. “Until now, there was no single place to see all this information,” said one researcher who requested anonymity because of ongoing projects. “This map makes it possible to compare policies across jurisdictions and hold officials accountable.” The project is a prime example of how citizen science and open data can empower communities in an era of rapid technological change.
Reksopuro’s map serves as a reminder that while data centers are often invisible to the average internet user, their physical presence has profound real-world consequences. From water scarcity in the Pacific Northwest to skyrocketing electricity bills in the Southeast, the infrastructure of the digital age is reshaping communities. By bringing this information to light, Reksopuro hopes to spark informed conversations and more equitable outcomes. As she put it, “Knowledge is power — and now you have the power to see what’s happening in your backyard.”
Source: The Verge News