Data Centers, LLC — Edward Donnelly

Data Centers, LLC - The world’s biggest tech, energy, real estate and investment companies are racing to build huge “hyperscale” scale data centers across the United States.

In a rush to secure land, power, and key zoning approvals for AI computing projects, companies are secretly lobbying government officials to support their plans. Communities upset with lack of transparency and fearful of environmental impacts are organizing to block data centers and push for more stringent regulations.

Archbald, Pennsylvania

A town of 7,500 people. In November 2025, the local council voted to change zoning regulations to pave the way for five huge data center projects, despite overwhelming calls by residents at public meetings to tighter environmental safeguards. An investigation later showed that AI data center developers had successfully lobbied local officials to change the rules.

Archbald, Pennsylvania. November 20, 2025. © Edward Donnelly
Archbald, Pennsylvania. November 20, 2025. © Edward Donnelly
The Archbald Borough Historical Society with map of Pennsylvania. © Edward Donnelly
A photograph of Archbald’s coal mining days in the Archbald Borough Historical Society. © Edward Donnelly
Madonna Munley at an Archbald Planning Commission meeting on November 5, 2025. © Edward Donnelly
Archbald planning commission meeting, November 5, 2025. © Edward Donnelly
Main Street, Archbald. © Edward Donnelly

Coweta County, Georgia

Forty miles southwest of Atlanta. Data center companies successfully lobbied to influence new county data center regulations in 2025. The county is a becoming an epicenter of the U.S. data center boom. Local residents are fighting to stop both data centers and related power infrastructure plans which will seize homes using eminent domain.

Coweta County commissioners take their seats before a Commission meeting on December 16, 2025. From left to right: Jeff Fisher, Bill McKenzie, and Al Smith. © Edward Donnelly