据《国会山报》审阅的一份文件显示，环保活动人士与大型科技公司似乎正在联合制定数据中心开发框架。该文件称，这些组织属于一个“负责任的数据中心开发协作组”，旨在创建一个“负责任的数据开发共同国家框架”。这一看似奇怪的合作伙伴关系包括微软、亚马逊、Meta和谷歌等超大规模AI公司，以及塞拉俱乐部、保护选民联盟和自然资源保护委员会（NRDC）等主要环保组织。
Environmental activists and Big Tech appear to be working jointly on a framework for data center development, according to a document reviewed by The Hill. The document states that the organizations are part of a “Responsible Data Center Development Collaborative” that seeks to create a “common national framework for responsible data development.”The apparent strange bedfellows arrangement includes hyperscale AI companies such as Microsoft, Amazon, Meta and Google, as well as leading environmental groups like the Sierra Club, the League of Conservation Voters and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).
该协作组旨在在成员之间寻求共识，其中包括目标看似截然不同的成员。根据文件，参与推动的其他组织还包括代表各类美国企业利益的美国商会，以及Anthropic、英伟达和甲骨文等其他大型科技公司。环保组织经常抵制数据中心开发，而企业和行业团体则推动开发。现在，根据文件，他们似乎正在合作推进一个框架，该框架包含“持久的经济发展”、“更负担得起、可靠且零排放的能源”以及“社区自主权和对负责任开发项目的支持”。
It seeks to find a consensus between members, including ones whose goals appear disparate. Additional organizations that appear to be part of the push include the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which advocates on behalf of various U.S. businesses, as well as other major tech companies including Anthropic, Nvidia and Oracle, according to the document. The environmental organizations have frequently pushed back against data center development, while the companies and industry groups have pushed for it. Now, according to the document, they appear to be working together to advance a framework that incorporates “durable economic development,” “more affordable, reliable and emissions free energy” and “community agency and support for responsibly developed projects.”
文件称，其目标是创建一个“资源”，利益相关者可根据实施情况和技术变化“随时修订”。自然资源保护委员会首席项目官朱莉·塞凯拉在给《国会山报》的声明中表示：“全国各地的社区都在应对数据中心建设热潮带来的挑战。这些项目对我们呼吸的空气、饮用的水、能源和住房负担能力构成风险，且往往在未经东道社区同意的情况下建设。”
The document states that it seeks to create a “resource” that stakeholders can “revise over time” based on implementation and technological changes. “Communities across the country are grappling with how to handle the blitz in data center construction," said Julie Cerqueira, chief program officer at NRDC, in a statement to The Hill. "These projects pose risks to the air we breathe, the water we drink, energy and housing affordability and often are built without the consent of the communities that host them.
“因此，在每一个谈判桌前都要有前线社区的代表，这一点至关重要，”塞尔凯拉说。近年来，随着数据中心热潮推动能源需求大幅增长，几家主要科技公司已在气候承诺上有所退缩。该联盟设有若干议题委员会，分别处理与水资源、透明度与参与、能源以及经济发展相关的事务。文件规定，该组织的工作时间表将介于今年9月至明年2月之间。
For that reason, it’s important to have frontline community representation at every table,” Cerqueira said. Several major tech companies have walked back climate commitments in recent years as the data center boom drives significant energy demand. The coalition has several issue-based committees working on matters related to water, transparency and participation, energy and economic development. The document states that the timeline for the organization's work will be between this September and next February.
至少一位其组织未参与联合框架谈判的环保人士批评了这一努力。“如果这套机制建立起来就会实现负责任的数据中心建设……在我看来，这感觉像是极其恶劣的漂绿行为，”生物多样性中心政府事务主任布雷特·哈特尔说。这一努力出台之际，数据中心近几个月因能源和用水问题以及对电价的潜在影响，已成为引发公众强烈反弹的来源。
At least one environmentalist whose organization is not part of the joint framework talks criticized the effort. "The notion that there will be a responsible data center buildout if this thing comes together, ... this feels to me like horrible greenwashing,” said Brett Hartl, government affairs director at the Center for Biological Diversity. The effort comes as data centers become a source of significant public pushback in recent months due to issues including their energy and water use and potential impacts on electricity prices.
这种审视并不一定沿意识形态界限划分，民主党人和共和党人均表达了担忧。政界人士甚至在同一政党内部，也未就数据中心是否以及如何监管达成共识。这一消息传出之际，通常比共和党采取更强监管立场的民主党人，似乎有望在国会一院或两院掌权。特朗普政府一直在推动针对科技公司的自愿性数据中心承诺，但未表示支持强制性标准。
The scrutiny has not necessarily fallen along ideological lines as Democrats and Republicans alike have expressed concerns. Politicians have also not reached consensus, even within the same political party, on whether and how to regulate data centers. The news comes as Democrats, who generally take a more regulatory stance than Republicans, appear poised to take power in one or both chambers of Congress. The Trump administration has sought to advance a voluntary data center pledge for tech companies, but has not signaled support for mandatory standards.
与此同时，一群两党议员正在推动立法，旨在加快基础设施的整体建设。该法案对数据中心而言似乎利弊参半，因为它们可能从简化的环境审查中受益，但也可能被要求为用电支付更高费用。
Meanwhile, a bipartisan set of lawmakers is pushing legislation that seeks to speed up the buildout of infrastructure overall. That bill appears to be a mixed bag for data centers, as they could benefit from its curtailed environmental reviews but could be required to pay more for their electricity use.