Action Alert: Keep Hyperscale/AI Data Centers out of Eugene

WHY: 

• Data Centers consume huge amounts of energy. One AI data center can use as much electricity as 100,000 households, and hyperscale data centers could use up to 20x more.  
• Data Centers lead to more fossil fuel infrastructure and higher greenhouse gas emissions. Diesel-powered backup generators cause localized air pollution and raise emissions, and fracked natural gas and coal are burned at higher rates to meet the increased pressure on the grid.
• Eugene is already drastically behind on the goals set out in our Climate Recovery Ordinance and the  increased emissions from a new data center would set us even further back. Since 2010, community fossil fuel emissions have decreased by a meager 11% since 2010, leaving a 39% gap to close in order to achieve a 50% reduction by 2030.
• Data Centers use large amounts of water and are linked to thermal pollution and concentrated contaminants like heavy metals, PFAS, and nitrates. 99.9% of Lane County residents are experiencing drought conditions; we don’t need more pressure on this essential resource and additional stress on existing infrastructure.. 
• Air and noise pollution from data centers disproportionately impact those already burdened by the climate crisis. A just transition off fossil fuels means we must reduce the health and economic harms of climate change, not add to the burden of our most vulnerable community members.