Artificial intelligence is becoming part of everyday life, but behind every AI application is something most people rarely see: large facilities filled with computer equipment that need enormous amounts of electricity, cooling, and supporting infrastructure.
That is becoming a very real issue in California.
In Silicon Valley, a wave of proposed AI-focused data centers is bringing new attention to how these facilities use energy and water, how they affect surrounding communities, and what environmental safeguards should be considered before they are built.
A recent Reuters report highlighted growing debate in San José, where residents and environmental groups have raised questions about the electricity, water, and pollution impacts associated with new data center development. At the same time, city officials have been working to attract the industry and position San José as a hub for AI infrastructure.
For environmental health professionals, this raises an important question:
How do we support new technology while making sure the infrastructure behind it is safe, efficient, and responsible?
Data Centers Are More Than Buildings Full of Computers
When most people picture a data center, they may imagine rows of computer servers.
In reality, these facilities are complex industrial-scale operations.
Servers generate significant amounts of heat and therefore require cooling systems. The buildings need substantial electrical capacity, backup power systems, ventilation, fire protection, water and wastewater infrastructure, and other supporting systems.
California already has more than 200 active data centers, according to the California Energy Commission. In early 2026, data centers represented about 1,000 megawatts, or roughly 2% of California ISO peak electricity demand. The CEC projects that figure could rise to approximately 4,500 megawatts, or 9% of peak demand, by 2040.
That projected growth is one reason data centers are increasingly becoming an environmental planning issue.
Where Does the Water Come In?
One of the less visible parts of data center operations is cooling.
Computer equipment produces heat continuously. Depending on the cooling technology used, facilities can require water as part of their cooling systems.
That creates an important planning question, particularly in California:
How much water will a facility need, where will that water come from, and what happens to it after use?
San José's own work on data center standards specifically identifies water usage as an issue. The city's proposed framework includes strategies such as recycled water infrastructure, closed-loop systems, and other water-efficiency technologies.
The goal isn't simply to look at how much water a facility uses on an average day.
Planning also needs to consider long-term water availability, seasonal conditions, infrastructure capacity, wastewater management, and opportunities to reduce the use of potable water.
Electricity Is Another Part of the Picture
Data centers also require a dependable supply of electricity.
That is especially important for AI facilities because high-performance computing can require substantial amounts of power.
The California Energy Commission identifies data centers as an emerging driver of electricity demand growth in the state. While the CEC does not generally permit data centers themselves, it evaluates their potential effect on future electricity demand and has permitting authority over certain associated power-generation facilities.
Backup power is another consideration.
Many data centers use onsite generators, commonly diesel-powered, to maintain operations during grid interruptions. The CEC notes that backup generators are typical at data centers, even when the grid is the primary source of electricity.
That means environmental planning isn't only about the electricity coming from the grid.
It can also involve air emissions from backup power systems, fuel storage, noise, and emergency operations.
Air Quality Should Be Part of the Conversation
Backup generators may operate only when needed, but they still need to be considered during environmental and safety planning.
Facilities need appropriate equipment, maintenance procedures, emissions controls where applicable, fuel-management practices, and emergency procedures.
For nearby communities, the larger question is how multiple facilities might affect the surrounding environment when considered together.
That is why environmental review can be useful before major projects are approved or constructed.
Looking at one facility in isolation may not tell the whole story.
What About the Community?
Large infrastructure projects can change the environment around them.
A new data center may require new electrical infrastructure, roads, utility connections, cooling systems, backup generators, and other supporting facilities.
Construction itself can bring temporary noise, dust, traffic, and other impacts.
Once operational, a facility can create different concerns, including energy demand, water use, noise from mechanical equipment, generator emissions, and changes to local infrastructure needs.
San José's current work on uniform data center standards specifically includes community notification and engagement as part of the planning process.
That is an important part of responsible development.
Communities need clear information about what is being proposed, what resources a project will use, and what measures are being considered to reduce potential impacts.
Environmental Review Is About Asking Questions Early
Environmental review works best when it happens before construction rather than after a problem develops.
For a large data center project, some of the questions worth asking include:
How much electricity will the facility require?
How will that electricity be supplied?
What type of cooling system will be used?
How much water will the facility consume?
Can recycled water be used instead of potable water?
What happens to wastewater?
What backup generators will be installed?
What emissions could those generators produce?
How will noise be managed?
What happens during a power outage or other emergency?
Could the project affect nearby water or air resources?
How will the surrounding community be informed?
These aren't questions unique to data centers.
They are the same kinds of questions environmental health professionals ask about many large industrial and commercial projects.
Technology and Environmental Responsibility Can Coexist
The growth of AI doesn't automatically mean that every data center will have the same environmental footprint.
Design choices matter.
Cooling technology matters.
Energy sources matter.
Water-management systems matter.
Location matters.
Operational practices matter.
A facility designed from the beginning with energy efficiency, water conservation, emissions management, emergency preparedness, and environmental monitoring in mind can approach these challenges differently from a facility where those issues are addressed only after construction.
That is why environmental considerations should be part of the planning process from the start.
What Businesses Can Learn From the Data Center Debate
Even businesses that have nothing to do with artificial intelligence can take something useful from this conversation.
Environmental responsibility is increasingly about looking at the full lifecycle of an operation.
It means asking not only, "Can we build or operate this facility?"
It also means asking:
What resources will we use?
What waste will we generate?
What emissions could we produce?
How will our operation affect nearby communities?
What happens during an emergency?
Can we reduce our environmental footprint before a problem occurs?
Those questions can apply to manufacturing facilities, warehouses, laboratories, food operations, offices, construction projects, and many other workplaces.
Planning for the Future
California's infrastructure needs are changing.
The state is adding new clean-energy resources while also preparing for increased electricity demand. At the same time, businesses and communities continue to face questions about water availability, air quality, climate resilience, and infrastructure capacity.
The growth of AI data centers brings all of those issues together in one place.
It is a reminder that technological progress doesn't happen separately from the environment.
Every new facility interacts with the systems around it.
Energy. Water. Air. Land. Infrastructure. People.
Good planning considers all of them.
The Bigger Environmental Health Lesson
The conversation around data centers isn't simply about artificial intelligence.
It's about how we build and operate large facilities in a world where resources need to be managed carefully.
As California continues to grow and new industries create new demands, environmental health needs to remain part of the conversation from the beginning.
That means understanding potential impacts, following applicable requirements, monitoring environmental conditions, preparing for emergencies, and looking for practical ways to reduce resource use.
At Definitive Safety Group, we believe responsible operations start with asking the right questions before problems occur.
Whether the project involves a data center, manufacturing facility, food operation, or another type of workplace, the principles remain the same:
Understand the risks.
Plan ahead.
Protect people.
Protect resources.
Build for the future.
That's #theDSGway.
