Research

We are continuing to expand our research and information on HYPER-SCALE data centers as we believe having all
the information will help our community and its leaders make the right decision about HYPER-SCALE
data centers. Below you will find research on noise, light, water, air, electrical and health & safety.

HYPER-SCALE Data Center

HYPER-SCALE Data centers are noisy industrial complexes that house acres of computer systems for storing virtual information. Massive infrastructure must be built to support these complexes, including transmission, water, and sewer lines. Data centers are slated to account for a fifth of the world's electricity usage and more than 3% of carbon emissions by 2025.
Dioide Inc - Developer
Developer Diode Inc, submitted an application and rendering to build a massive campus with seven to fifteen hyperscale data centers totalling 2.1 million sq. ft., and each building 38 ft. tall. The data center campus can legally be 10 ft. from residential property. There will be anywhere from seven to fifteen 300,000 sq ft structures, each with potentially very large electrical stations, less than 100 ft. away. This would be the largest data center in Missouri and by far the closest to
residential homes. Residents within 300 ft of the proposed development were formally notified via mail. Signs were not posted. All other residents, the remaining 99 +% were out of the loop. We recommend revising permissions to require Special Exception approval for data centers, regardless of size.
There was no site plan submitted. The renderings, however, call for massive industrial data centers. They DO NOT illustrate the impact of required power including substations and an additional power plant. Because the Diode Inc. application merely mentioned the word "computer," the land designated as AG was suggested to be rezoned to Light Industrial-I.
This data center would be in the heart of our residential community -- less than 260 ft. from residential property, and the new very large electrical substations will be less than 100 ft. away. It will have a negative impact on our community: creating noise and light disturbance 24 hours a day 7 days a week, requiring very high energy and water use, emitting potentially harmful pollutants, and impacting property values. This massive data center site plan will drastically change the community and cut off access to future mixed use development. A data center would be a permanent eyesore among other residential developments, amenities, and positive growth.
Photos
Photos of other data centers from around the country built very close to homes.
Videos
Documentation
Click the button below to read the first article and scroll down to read the second article. 
Other Communities fighting this issue
MAPs of proposal

Noise

Data Centers generate continuous 24/7 low-frequency noise from HVAC cooling systems. Additionally, industrial grade generators also produce a lot of noise and must be run for maintenance (up to 2 hours a day) and during the duration of power outages (day or night). 
Key Points
  • Low frequency noise passes through barriers and travels farther. 
  • Low frequency noise negatively impacts health and quality of life.
  • No recourse for residents/businesses when noise is exceeded after final construction.
  • Continuous noise, even at low decibels, is also detrimental to wildlife.
  • Additive affects of noise not being taken into account. 
  • Hot weather increases data center noise.
  • Data Centers should employ active and passive sound suppression techniques.
  • Data Centers should be required to erect physical barriers for sound.
Details
The decibel scale is logarithmic, not linear, which means 60 decibels is twice as loud as 50.
Low frequency noise passes through barriers and travels farther. The decibel scale is logarithmic, not linear, which means 60 decibels is twice as loud as 50.  The data center HVACs emit a low-frequency noise that is not absorbed well, meaning it is able to pass through barriers and travel farther. It is a constant low-level hum that our brains can’t tune out. The noise ordinance is insufficient because it only takes into account decibels and not the level of frequency (Hz). See No Noise is Good Noise on how locals, whose homes are nearly the same distance from where the data center will be to Peculiar, are responding.
 Studies are emerging urging that data centers not be placed near schools. According to the Industrial Noise & Vibration Centre, "low-frequency tones (< c 300Hz) cannot be reduced effectively using conventional silencers or barriers and don't contribute much to dB(A)" and therefore must be analyzed differently.  A data center completed in 2023 in Leesburg using the latest noise-reducing technology and equipment measured noise under 55 dBA, yet still evoked complaints from residents up to 3 miles away.
Mayor Doug Stark recently stated in the Positivily Peculiar newsletter, "I promise to always work hard for every resident and keep your best interest in every decision I make. As I have said before, I just want to make a positive difference in our community and make you proud of your town. We have made some very big steps forward over the last 2 years but we still have much to do. I hope everyone ALWAYS stays involved in what’s going on around town and if you ever have questions email or call me or reach out to city staff. I will always listen to your concerns or comments. Working together with the correct information we will unite our community... I am highly aware of the faith you have placed in us to keep Peculiar’s small town feel."  Encourage the Mayor and Peculiar city leaders to take a field trip to a hyperscale data center of similar size to what is proposed for Peculiar (Sarpy County, NE has a 2.4 million s.f. campus; phase one of the Peculiar proposed data center is 2.1 million s.f.)  Let them hear and see how this will impact Peculiar's small town feel. 
NYC changed their measuring scale away from dB(A) to dB(C) for low-frequency noise and limits air conditioning systems (including industrial rooftop systems) to “42 decibels"..."at an open door or window of a nearby residence”. https://www.nyc.gov/assets/dep/downloads/pdf/air/noise/noise-code-guide-summary.pdf.
Chantilly Premier’s Noise Study demonstrates “40 - 42 dB(A) at the residential area” can be achieved and can be below the Ambient Noise Level (especially at night).
Low frequency noise negatively impacts health and quality of life. Citing studies from around the globe these studies “reinforced the fact that low-frequency noise is a powerful stressor. The most cited effects on human health refer to emotional changes such as annoyance [19,20], agitation, and distraction [2,21,22], in addition to the association of low-frequency noise with cognitive alterations [23], the development of cardiovascular diseases [24,25], sleep disorders [26], and high blood pressure [27], and, more recently, the effects of industrial low-frequency noise on dental wear [28,29].”          
No recourse for residents/businesses when noise is exceeded after final construction. The noise ordinance allows for up to two hours a day for generator maintenance but unlimited for emergency operations, and there is nothing to prevent the 2 hour maintenance duration from being exceeded. And as a data center builds out and adds more servers, it needs more HVACs and generators yet there are no requirements to continue to monitor noise after initial construction is complete. Any violation would have to be proved and would result in a minimal fine. Chandler, AZ has implemented common sense changes such as requiring continuous noise monitoring and publishing generator testing schedules. PDCREF2 Chantilly Premier, proffer 29d, commits to noise monitoring after each addition of noise generating equipment.
Continuous noise, even at low decibels, is also detrimental to wildlife. Decades of research documenting the effects of noise on wildlife and plant life (including National Park Service, the National Science Foundation, the Federal Highway Administration and internationally) concludes that continuous noise affects wildlife communication, reproduction and survival, forces many to abandon the area, which then leads to deforestation and alteration of the biodiversity of the area. Research shows that “wildlife responses begin at noise levels of approximately 40 dBA”. Yet the impact on wildlife in the adjacent Resource Protection Area, which will far exceed 40 dBA, is being ignored.
Additive affects of noise not being taken into account. The City of Peculiar and County do not take into account the cumulative effects of multiple data centers -- there are seven proposed in the initial phase of the Peculiar hyperscale (mega campus) data center, each will have approximately 36 generators per building.  Our community is quickly becoming a "Data Center Alley" but there are no mechanisms in place to monitor and mitigate the cumulative effects on Peculiar and surrounding areas.
Hot weather increases data center noise. During periods of hot weather, the generators require more maintenance periods and increased rooftop cooling fan speeds, exacerbating the noise.
  Data Centers should employ active and passive sound suppression techniques.  Tier 4-compliant generators, Silencers, baffles and other acoustical treatments are needed to insure a 45 dB(A) limit at residential boundaries and/or at the 2,640 foot (1/2 mile) perimeter.  As the second and additional data center buildings and ancillary equipment become operational (because noise is cumulative), the generators should be buried or fully enclosed.  Remedies and enforcement that is impactful should be imposed for effecting compliance.  Industry accountability and compliance is for the public good.
 Pre-Construction Acoustical Analysis, certified by an acoustical engineer, can be conducted prior to construction to confirm that the final engineered design will meet the Noise Limitations of no greater than 45 dB(A) limit at residential boundaries and/or at the 2,640 (1/2 mile) perimeter.
 Post-Construction Acoustical Analysis, certified by an acoustical engineer, after completion of construction and installation of all mechanical equipment, can ensure all Noise Limitations of no greater than 45 dB(A) limit at residential boundaries and/or at the 2,640 (1/2 mile) perimeter are met.  In the event that servers and associated cooling and backup generators are installed in phases, additional analyses can be provided for each subsequent phase of installation prior to the issuance of permits.   Remedies and enforcement that is impactful should be imposed for effecting compliance.  Industry accountability and compliance is for the public good.

  Data Centers should be required to erect physical barriers for sound. ​
Videos
Documentation

Light

Data centers utilize extensive lighting and security. This industrial application will change the night skies. A typical zoning ordinance includes limits on light pollution as it relates to simple structures such a new gas station. Placing a data center into a community should come with the same restrictions.
Key Points
  • Light pollution impacts human sleep, anxiety and other environmental concerns.
  • Data Centers should be required to erect physical barriers for light.
  • Data Centers should utilize best practices to limit light pollution including defined light angles.
Documentation
Click the button below to read the first article and scroll down to read the second article. ​​
Photos

Water

Peculiar's own website states: "In fiscal year 2022, the City purchased and resold an average of 258,824 gallons of water per day, or approximately 94,471,000 in a twelve-month period." The proposed data centers will need approximately 450,000 gallons of water a day for cooling purposes. Each building will roughly double the need for water. The proposed 8 to 15 centers will require 3.6 million to 6.75 million gallons of water per day. This is a tremendous strain on the water supply and will require massive infrastructure. Data Centers traditionally place themselves near rivers or large bodies of water for this purpose. Diode proposes this project to be supplied with water from PSWD# 2 and the City of Peculiar. This will impact both Peculiar Water and PSWD# 2 customers.
There is no published plan on what Diode intends to do with the millions of gallons of wastewater. Is this going to be treated and disposed of on site? Is the water going to be discharged into the local streams? Is the waste water going to be pumped into the City's sewer treatment plant? What kind of treatment will be needed for the water? These are unknowns that Diode wants to negotiate after
they receive approval to build.​
Key Points
  • Peculiar and Cass County Water District #2 do not have the capacity to provide water to the project.
  • Peculiar and Cass County Water District #2 have not completed or released studies of the impact this project will have on the infrastructure.
  • There is no existing infrastructure to provide water or waste water treatment for the project.
  • Flammable/toxic on-site liquid storage is not being addressed. No agreement on who bears the cost of accidental contamination of water/soil to fall on taxpayers.
  • No environmental study has been completed to determine if this location is suited for data centers.
  • Diesel discharges (for generators) are more common than one may think.​
Details
No one from Peculiar Water or PWSD#2 have provided information at the previous meetings. Diode has not answered whether these studies have even been ordered yet! Raymore did a similar study in 2019 when they were seeking this kind of development. That study was based upon a need for a million gallons of water a day and resulted in an estimate of 10 to 15 million dollars to upgrade the system. Raymore determined this type of development was unfeasible.
Flammable/Toxic on-site liquid storage has not been addressed. Data centers require large numbers of industrial grade diesel generators storing thousands of gallons of flammable diesel fuel and toxic diesel exhaust fluid on-site. A spill (from the generators or diesel trucks hooking up to fill the generators), leak (like in Tennessee), fire or other accidents can shut down the area. Only through the Special Exception process in Fairfax County can water mitigations, Tier 4 diesel generators, or other protections be requested.
County waste water treatment is not designed to remove by-products from data centers. It is unclear if Peculiar's sewer system is designed to remove salts, PFAs or other chemicals that may be discharged from data center cooling systems. Chemicals associated with data centers can be transmitted to sanitary sewershed and pass through the wastewater treatment
process without reduction or removal.
Diesel discharges are more common than one may think. In the last 10 years, in Fairfax and Loudoun counties alone, a simplified search of discharges from tanker trucks resulted in 14 reported incidents. According to the Program Manager of the Regional Pollution Response (PReP) who provided the results, due "to the query method of relying on the word "tanker" in the description, I cannot guarantee every incident was captured." According to the DEQ, there have been 69 leak/spill incidents from Federally Regulated Above-ground Storage Tanks (AST) since 2018 in the commonwealth.
Videos
Documentation
Click the button below to read the first article and scroll down to read the second article. ​

Air

The resulting emissions of carbon dioxide and other pollutants contribute significantly to air pollution, affecting both local air quality and global climate patterns. Addressing the environmental footprint of data centers has to become crucial
​in the pursuit of sustainable technology infrastructure.
Key Points
  • Data Center industry says they are using Tier 4, the least polluting diesel generators, but they are not.
  • Diesel emissions put the public’s health at risk and damages property.
  • EPA regulations are inadequate and DEQ is not studying impacts.
  • Due to insufficient electrical grid, data centers rely on air polluting diesel generators (4,000 and counting).
  • Diesel emissions contributes to climate change.
Details
Data Center industry says they are using Tier 4, the least polluting diesel generators, but they are not. Requiring a significant reduction in PM (particulate matter), Tier 4 represents the highest level of clean air regulations for diesel generators proposed to date. The EPA began issuing Tier 4 certification in January 2014. Tier 4 refers to the NSPS emissions standard that became effective on all large stationary generator sets in 2015. However, all generators installed in 2022 and 2023, and the additional ones planned (up to 69 permitted), at the newest AWS Virginia Mallory data center are Tier 2. The facility's Air Permit Application, section 4.6.2 9VAC5 Rule 5-4 – Standards of Performance for Stationary Sources, 3rd paragraph, even states "All the engines being installed at the facility have been certified as meeting EPA’s Tier 2 emission standards". 
Is Cass County making an attempt to protect our air quality? It has been stated by the developer that we strive to be like Loudoun County, VA. With over 4,000 data center diesel generators (map) identified in Loudoun as of early 2023, and Fairfax County encouraging more data centers there is no environmental impact study to address this continued threat to air quality. We are in the same position and there are no protections we can ask for without requiring the Special Exception process. 
Diesel emissions put the public’s health at risk and damages property. Data centers require large numbers of industrial grade diesel generators contributing to air pollution. Only through the Special Exception process can citizens and the county negotiate for the least polluting, Tier 4, diesel generators, or other alternative, less polluting, energy sources. Diesel exhaust emits particulate matter (PM2.5) that are small enough to be inhaled deeply which not only cause or worsen respiratory issues and are linked to heart attacks but are also carcinogenic to humans. People within 0.5 miles of warehouse-related emissions have higher rates of asthma. The EPA also states that emissions from diesel engines contribute to the production of ground-level ozone which damages crops, trees and other vegetation. Also produced is acid rain, which affects soil, lakes and streams and enters the human food chain via water, produce, meat and fish. Diesel emissions also contribute to property damage and reduced visibility.
EPA regulations are inadequate and the DEQ is not studying impacts. According to a recent study by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, author Joel Schwartz, senior professor of environmental epidemiology, states “The key message here is that U.S. air pollution standards are inadequate in protecting public health. The Environmental Protection Agency recently proposed stricter standards for PM2.5, but their proposal doesn’t go far enough in regulating this pollutant. Current NO2 standards are also woefully inadequate. Unless all of these standards become much, much stricter, air pollution will continue to result in thousands of unnecessary cases of multiple cancers each year.” 
According to an August 2023 statement from the DEQ Air Quality Manager, "The Agency does not possess or have information on any studies or data related to the effect of Data Centers on air quality.  In addition, we are not aware of any specific studies conducted to determine the impact of data centers on the local air quality." There is only one air monitors in all of Cass County and none near the new Data Center Alley forming south of Kansas City.
Due to insufficient electrical grid, data centers rely on air polluting diesel generators. As of early 2023, there were over 4,000 data center diesel generators in the area of Loudoun County; more than any other industry combined. The DEQ already attempted to issue a variance in 2023 to allow the generators to exceed EPA air pollution standards when they could not get enough electricity from the grid – fortunately the variance failed after public outcry. The data centers around the world are using renewable energies, such as hydrotreated vegetable oil and microturbines, why can't we? According to an email from the DEQ Air Quality Manager,  "The Agency does not possess or have information on any studies or data related to the effect of Data Centers on air quality.  In addition, we are not aware of any specific studies conducted to determine the impact of data centers on the local air quality." 
Diesel emissions contribute to climate change. Emitting Carbon dioxide (CO2) and Nitrous oxide (N2O), the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimates that in 2021, diesel (distillate) fuel consumption in the U.S. transportation sector resulted in the emission of about 472 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2), a greenhouse gas.
What pollutants do diesel engines and generators emit? According to the EPA, "When diesel fuel is burned in engines, the emissions that result contributes to air pollution that has serious human health and environmental effects.
Pollution from diesel exhaust includes:
  • Soot or particulate matter (PM);
  • Oxides of nitrogen (NOx) which contributes to the production of ground-level ozone (smog) and acid rain; 
  • Hydrocarbons (HC);
  • Carbon monoxide (CO); and
  • Other hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) and air toxics.
This air pollution can cause heart and lung disease and a range of other health effects.  It can also damage plants, animals, crops, and water resources."
Videos
Documentation

Electrical

Norther Virginia is currently the "data center capital in the U.S. and even in the world. Virginia data centers consume more electricity than anywhere else in the world and the growth is not abating. According to the U.S. Energy Administration report released in 2022, a 100,000 SQFT in-patient hospital needs 2.6 MegaWatts (MW) of electricity - the same sized data center consumes 7 times that, and with a data center hosting Artificial Intelligence servers, more than 30 times the same sized hospital. We must put regulations in place to slow this train down before it's too late.
Key Points
  • ​​Hyperscale data centers require multiple electrical substations and switching stations which means more land and higher electricity bills.
  • Data centers, cryptocurrency mining data centers and AI data centers consume enormous amounts of energy.
  • There is not enough power for the proposed data centers.
  • A new power plant will be proposed as a part of the plan.
Details
New electrical substations and switching stations required for data centers means more land and higher electricity bills.  Evergy West is increasing rate-payer utility bills by $104 million (that is a 13.42% increase), effective 1/1/2025.  Evergy is not imposing this increase on the Evergy Metro rate payers.  This increase is the first to pay for a new power plant and transmission lines for data centers in the northland and our community. We, the ratepayers are funding what the end-user, the data centers, should be funding, as they are the primary benefactors.
A substation typically has a 300 MW (mega watt) capacity.  The Peculiar data center campus has seven proposed buildings in phase one, with each building typically requiring 48-60 MW for general enterprise servers/building and 5-10 times that amount for AI servers/building.  
 A Data Center requiring a new substation ​ “This guidance provides an option for higher intensity, while ensuring proposals are compatible with surrounding uses and can be supported by existing infrastructure.” A new substation’s impacts include:
  • more nearby acres of land will be needed to build the power plant and miles of land will need to be cleared to run the huge (60-to 150-foot) electrical transmission poles.  This is not being considered as part of the rezoning. Such enormous power needs are unsustainable in a community of our size.
  • Evergy has indicated that the increased demand for electricity (that they currently do not have the infrastructure to support) is primarily driven by data centers, resulting in their continued reliance on fossil fuels or other energy sources for at least 15 more years and rate increases will be spread among Missouri payers.
Data centers, cryptocurrency mining data centers and AI data centers consume enormous amounts of energy. “AI is inherently ravenous for electricity.” “The amount of electricity required to power the world’s data centers could jump by 50% by 2027, thanks to AI alone.” "Digiconomist currently estimates that Bitcoin consumes 126TWh of electricity per year, roughly equivalent to the Arab Emirates." Such consumption without considering the impacts prior to data center application approvals conflicts with the Countywide Strategic Plan that “all people live in a healthy sustainable environment” through “supporting sound
environmental policy and practices.”
Peculiar needs to make all data centers apply as Special Exceptions. Peculiar needs to draft data center zoning ordinances that specify information about energy usage. Building size could be used to trigger a Special Exception if the city is unwilling to require Special Exception for all data centers. Zoning should include a cap on energy usage per square foot. Electricity is a better measure because what could fit into 80,000 SF with AI would need 60 MW versus 12 MW of electricity - "The power consumption goes from 500 watts to 700 watts for a general enterprise-class server to between 2,500 watts and 4,500 watts for a
single AI training node."​
Videos
Documentation
Click the button below to read the article
Photos

Health & Safety

It's essential for the community and local authorities to engage with the developers and operators early in the process to address these concerns. This can include conducting environmental impact assessments, implementing mitigation measures, and ensuring ongoing communication to address any emerging issues.
Key Points
  • Noise: Can damage hearing, increase stress and fatigue, decrease productivity and cause headaches
  • Fire protection: Traditional fire stations are not equipped for fires at a data center
  • Data centers produce EMFs - Electromagnetic Fields that can be harmful to the local community
  • Chemicals: Data centers use various chemicals that can be hazardous to workers and the local community
Details
The construction of a large data center near residential areas can raise several health and safety concerns for the community. Here are some key considerations:
  1. Electromagnetic Fields (EMF): Data centers emit electromagnetic fields due to the operation of their equipment, including servers and networking infrastructure. Prolonged exposure to high levels of EMF has been associated with potential health risks, although the scientific consensus on this is still evolving.
  2. Noise Pollution: Data centers can generate significant noise from cooling systems, generators, and other equipment. This noise can be disruptive to nearby residents and may affect quality of life, especially if operations run 24/7.
  3. Air Quality: Construction and operation of data centers can impact air quality due to emissions from diesel generators, construction dust, and traffic associated with ongoing maintenance and delivery of equipment.
  4. Traffic and Transportation: Increased traffic from construction vehicles and ongoing service vehicles can pose safety risks, especially near schools and residential areas. This includes concerns about road safety and potential accidents.
  5. Infrastructure Strain: Large-scale data centers may strain local infrastructure such as roads, utilities (electricity, water), and emergency services. This strain can affect the overall community's ability to function smoothly.
  6. Security Concerns: Depending on the data center's operations, there may be security concerns related to physical access and potential for cyber threats. Ensuring robust security measures can mitigate these risks.
  7. Environmental Impact: Data centers consume significant amounts of energy for operation and cooling. Assessing the environmental impact, such as energy consumption and waste heat management, is crucial for sustainable development.
Documentation
Click the buttons below to read the first article and scroll down to read the second article. ​​

Property Value

The developer has stated that Data Centers actually raise property value. They did not report the whole story.  Realtors use properties within an entire zip code to establish/report home values.  Those homes closest to data centers do not sell; sell at a greatly reduced value and/or sit on the market for months longer than neighbors who are not within earshot / eyesight of data centers.
Key Points
  • Realtors consider schools, shopping, and restaurants within 2 miles of homes an asset but not data centers.
  • Poor zoning does not help residential or business resales.
Details
Many people purchase their “forever” homes, raise a family, and use the equity in that home to send their kids to college. What is the benefit to nearby residents and businesses of rezoning an agriculture to "light industrial" area to accommodate a mega data center?
The City of Peculiar would like to allow data centers, with no size limitation to exist near or adjacent to the adjoining neighborhoods. Homes near a data center (Coresite 3) in Fairfax County that were directly next to the data center (2204 Cocquina Dr., Reston VA 20191) have seen their value decrease by $100k or more and/or hadn't sold since the data center went operational demonstrating the difficulty of selling a home that close. And that's in a limited supply/high demand market.  Additionally, it would appear that Coresite 3 has fully enclosed backup generators making homes near data centers without such enclosures even LESS valuable. ​​
Documentation
Click the button below to see the data center map
Videos
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