We’re taking on the South’s data center buildout

 

SHARED FOR EDUCATION AND INFORMATION ABOUT THE ADVERSE IMPACTS 

OF DATA CENTERS AND THEIR DECEPTIVE TACTICS!

Tell me if this sounds acceptable to you:  A private company comes into your community to build a data center. To get it done, they cut secret deals with local governments. They hide information about the project from your neighbors. And when that data center does get built, it spews air pollution, generates constant noise, sucks up your community’s water, and gets fueled by dirty methane gas.    Meanwhile, your power bill keeps going up.  It all sounds like a movie plot, but this is how data centers are getting built in communities across the South. It’s why SELC, powered by your generosity, is developing a playbook for fighting back.  And it’s why I’m humbly asking for your support today. Your advocacy is so important to SELC’s mission, and now a group of donors will match your gift $1 for $1 to help us pump the brakes on data centers. Earth Day is just a day away; will you help us make it matter by doubling your impact for our Southern environment?

With your help, SELC is tackling the data center challenge from every angle:    We’ve created reports for local governments that give practical, usable tips on how to address data center development in a responsible, transparent way.   We’ve done the math to show why it’s unlikely that enough data centers will materialize to justify the massive buildout of electricity generation facilities proposed by the South’s monopoly utilities. When necessary, we’ve taken a sharper approach — we’re working with communities on the ground to file citizen suits against data centers that violate federal law. SELC isn’t anti-technology or anti-progress. We’re just making sure that amidst this gold rush, our communities and our Southern environment don’t get left behind.  Because so much of the data center buildout is happening right now, every dollar you contribute can make an outsized impact on SELC’s response. If you’re able, please make your gift today, and it will go twice as far toward keeping up the fight this Earth Month.

With gratitude,  Renee Clark  Director of Annual Giving  Southern Environmental Law Center *Every dollar will be matched up to a total of $50,000 through April 30. If you’ve already made a contribution this Earth Month, thank you — it can take some time for our systems to sync up. We are deeply grateful.

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We are the Southern Environmental Law Center—one of the nation’s most powerful defenders of the environment, rooted in the South. With a long track record, SELC takes on the toughest environmental challenges in court, in government, and in our communities to protect our region’s air, water, climate, wildlife, lands, and the people that live here.  We can solve the most complex environmental challenges right here in the South. Let’s solve them together.     Support our Work |  Our Impact | Advocacy Center   Copyright © 2026 Southern Environmental Law Center, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: Southern Environmental Law Center 120 Garrett Street Suite 400 Charlottesville, Virginia 22902