A U.S. data-center guideline effort is bringing technology firms and environmental groups into discussions as electricity demand grows and communities weigh effects on local resources.
AFP reported, after reviewing a discussion document, that the Responsible Data Center Collaborative is working on national guidance. Its reported members include Google, Meta, Microsoft, Oracle, Amazon, Nvidia and Anthropic, alongside the Natural Resources Defense Council, World Wildlife Fund and Sierra Club. The document names the Rockefeller Foundation and Invest in Our Future as supporters.
The reported agenda covers power and infrastructure, water and natural resources, community engagement and economic and community value. It also addresses transparency, accountability and how the guidance could be put into practice. AFP said participants began meeting in September and expect discussions to continue through February 2027.
Separately, the Rockefeller Foundation says it hosted a summer gathering about the local effects of data-center development and supports stakeholders seeking further discussion. It lists energy prices, water, land, jobs and community character among local concerns, and says residents need information, expertise and a voice in decisions.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) says data-center electricity demand rose 17% in 2025, reaching 485 terawatt-hours. It projects consumption will reach 950 terawatt-hours in 2030, or about 3% of global electricity demand. The IEA links some of the growth to artificial intelligence and expects electricity use at AI-focused data centers to triple from 2025 to 2030.
The IEA says clusters of data centers may lead utilities to add generation and invest in grid capacity. Effects on prices may vary by location, depending on local electricity supply and demand; the agency also reports community concerns about affordability and environmental impacts. AFP says the collaborative expects its discussions to run through February 2027.
