Mandate publishing annual statistics on data centre water & electricity usage

Background

Parts of the UK have experienced a drought, and residents have been asked to conserve water. We are concerned that the concerted efforts to build new data centres could place a huge strain on our water supply.

Additional details

We feel our water supply has been pushed to breaking point. By allowing developers to opt into the NSIP regime, planning permission can be granted by Ministers and not local councils. We feel this denies residents meaningful control over stopping these developments from being built in their area, and that designating data centres as Critical National Infrastructure deserves special scrutiny as it gives data centres access to resources during shortages. Data centres also use a huge amount of electricity, which could result in increases in wholesale electricity costs for everyone at a time when many are already financially struggling. We believe people deserve to know the impact data centres are having.

Where it’s popular

Constituencies with the most signatures on this petition.