As large data centers set their sights on the First State, DE-CLEAR has formed to push for strong regulations and guardrails to protect residents, ratepayers, and the environment from negative impacts. The higher electric costs on DE residents could be an added $70-$100 dollars per month with only 1 data center and potential high volumes of water needed for cooling systems will increase residents’ water bill and could affect the water wells, which has happened in some areas of the country. While there are existing small data centers in DE these are drafted by the immense scale of these new Hyper-scale Data Centers.
The Delaware Data Center Coalition for Local, Environmental, and Accountable Regulation (DE-CLEAR) represents thousands of residents with members from organizations including the Sierra Club Delaware Chapter, Citizens Alliance for Responsible Land Use, Autism Delaware, Claymont Coalition For Environmental Justice, RADAR, Delaware Working Families Power, Citizens Against Jamison Corners Warehouses, Sunrise Newark, Yorklyn Community Association, Peoples Advocacy and Research, Delaware Audubon, Mid Atlantic Alliance of Climate and Health (MAACH), DE Coalition for Open Government (DelCOG),Civic League of New Castle County, League of Women Voters of Delaware, and more.
The Coalition, DE-CLEAR, started coming together after a 1.2 Gigawatt data center proposal in New Castle County highlighted how unprepared the county, and the rest of Delaware, are to accurately assess these new projects. Several members of the coalition have advocated in support of New Castle County Council Ordinance 25-101, giving public comment in favor of strong guardrails to ensure the responsible development of data centers in Delaware.
A member of the Coalition, Autism Delaware, notes “The constant low-frequency noise generated by the large number of fans operating 24/7 in major data centers poses a serious risk to sensitive populations, including individuals with autism spectrum disorder and other disabilities. This persistent noise can significantly disrupt quality of life.
As an organization dedicated to supporting the health and well-being of people on the spectrum, Autism Delaware is deeply concerned about the absence of regulations governing the development and operation of these facilities. We urge Delaware’s lawmakers to carefully consider the needs of all constituents when determining if and how to move forward with data center projects.”
The Coalition has already been successful in educating interested community members about the risks associated with large data centers and what responsible development would look like. The next step is to educate the public about data center issues and why guardrails are needed.
“Data Center Developers are following the same rhetorical roadmap that other industries that have tried to take advantage of Delawareans have used in the past. Namely, promise the moon and stars and deliver nothing but hurt and higher prices for everyday Delawareans,” said Dustyn Thompson, Director for the Sierra Club Delaware Chapter.
“Delawareans have been successful in the past with standing up to industry, demanding protection from harmful development, and accountability and transparency from anyone trying to use our precious natural resources. It became clear that it was time for Delawareans from all corners to come together to face what could be our state's largest threat since heavy industry became regulated in the early 1970’s.
Data Centers pose complex threats to our natural areas, our quality of life, and to our energy systems. That is why we formed DE-CLEAR and why we continue to gain traction every day; because Delawareans know that we must demand better from our leaders and from companies trying to use hot-button issues and buzzwords to sell us on their fever dream. We are proud to have over 15 member organizations now, representing the many different interests and groups at risk if we don’t develop these large data centers responsibly. We invite other organizations to join the fight and protect their corners of our great state in what will be the next battle to protect our economy, environment, and quality of life.”
Please contact Marissa McClenton at (302)241-1655 or marissa.mcclenton@sierraclub.org or Dale Swain at 302-584-7631 or daleswain@verizon.net with any questions.