These massive facilities demand enormous amounts of electricity, often powered by fossil fuels—or worse, subsidized through taxpayer support and fast-tracked permits. In Pennsylvania, where AI and cloud projects are expanding, the tracker reveals how tax exemptions and loose oversight can obscure environmental risks, including increased pollution and water stress in impacted areas.
FracTracker’s research also highlights troubling industry practices: companies misclassifying data centers under obscure SIC or NAICS codes to sidestep environmental regulations. This loophole makes it harder for communities to hold operators accountable under air, water, and local planning laws—and undercuts transparency.
At H2O Water Network, we’re committed to exposing hidden stresses on water systems—from pipeline siting to stormwater runoff and now data centers too. The energy and water use of these digital infrastructure facilities can strain local grids and lead to unfair costs for ratepayers and frontline neighborhoods.
The FracTracker tool encourages public participation—residents can submit missing facility data to improve accuracy. Whether you’re a local township planner or a concerned citizen in rural Pennsylvania, this tracker provides essential insights to join the conversation about community health, equitable development, and regulatory oversight.
If you’re interested in protecting clean water and pushing back on hidden infrastructure risks, this is a must-use resource. Take a look, provide missing information if needed, and share it with local groups focused on clean energy, zoning justice, or public health. Together, we can bring visibility to projects that often operate under the radar.
