Louth says no to new data centres

A contingent of activists from Louth were among people from all over Ireland who took to the streets of Dublin last Saturday as part of the country's first ever demonstration against data centres.

The march came as CSO data reveals that wholesale electricity prices have almost doubled in the past year.

Organised by Friends of the Earth Ireland in collaboration with community groups facing big data centre developments, the demonstration was part of a European wide day of action on data centres.

The groups taking part in the protest in Dublin called on the Government to urgently halt new data centre developments due to the threat they pose to climate targets, energy security and electricity costs.

Rosi Leonard, Data Centre Campaign Lead with Friends of the Earth Ireland commented: "The real cost of Ireland's rapid data centre expansion is being borne by ordinary people.

“A recent report shows that the electricity consumption by big data centres may be resulting in higher energy costs for households.

“It found the average household may have paid an estimated €360 in additional electricity costs between 2015-2023 due to the intensity of data centre presence on the grid.

“With wholesale electricity prices already having doubled in the last 12 months, the last thing people in Ireland need is more pressure on their household bills."

She added: “We’re proud to join other countries and communities who are all asking the same question as us: who benefits from massive data centre build out, and who pays the price?

“A moratorium on new data centres in Ireland should be common sense; they are increasing our energy bills, they are locking us into a new generation of fossil fuels, and workers’ rights are being undermined more and more by expensive gambles on AI.”

Data centres now use 23% of all electricity in Ireland, a figure which is unprecedented globally. Ireland is now considered to be a “cautionary tale” by the U.N. when it comes to data centre development.

As well as in Louth, communities all over Ireland are currently opposed to data centre developments in their areas including in:

• Clondalkin, Co. Dublin, where residents near Echelon’s DUB10 development have reported persistent noise and disrupted sleep, which has prompted an EPA investigation.
• Kilmeaden, Co Waterford, where residents are opposing a proposed campus at the former cheese factory, including three data centres, a solar farm and gas turbines. Planning permission for this development was refused in October.
• Naas (including Jigginstown, Newhall and Halverstown), Co. Kildare where residents are opposed to a proposed €3bn campus proposed by Herbarta Ltd next to the M7 motorway and business park in Naas, and to a separate Microsoft plan for Jigginstown.
• Rochfortbridge, Co Westmeath where residents are opposing planning permission for Red Admiral’s €1bn data centre and solar development on approximately 600 acres. It is currentrly under appeal
• Killala, Co. Mayo, where residents oppose a proposal from Mayo Data Hub Ltd. for a 29,000-square metre facility that would comprise a data centre, administrative buildings and associated electrical and mechanical plant rooms. Planning permission has been refused.
• Ennis. Co Clare where residents recently lost a Supreme court appeal against a proposed €1.6bn campus near the Tulla Road.

Niamh Fitzgibbon from Kildare Data Centre Awareness commented on Saturday: “Lots of communities in Ireland and Europe are facing runaway large-scale data centre development but too often each community fights this alone.

“The same issues are showing up everywhere, from Kildare to the rest of the world. Today we're standing together, and if our representatives won't represent us, we'll represent ourselves.”

Jane O’Brien from Kilmeadan Against Industrialisation commented: “Our community is being asked to pay the price for big tech’s profits. We take a lot of hope in seeing other communities around Ireland and Europe are all facing the same thing and getting organised.”

Sinéad Sheehan from Futureproof Clare commented: “We are concerned that the Liquified Natural Gas terminal planned by the government on the Shannon Estuary in County Clare is mainly for supplying gas for Big Tech demand.

“This is a huge environmental issue that people in the west of Ireland need to contend with because of data centres, for very little or no return.”

Friends of the Earth Ireland is calling on the Government to enact a moratorium on new data centres due to the threat they pose to energy security, climate goals, clean energy targets, affordability, and locking in demand for new fossil fuels.

A recent poll commissioned by the Irish Times revealed there was widespread public support for a halt to new data centre developments with 61% of respondents agreeing with a moratorium on new connections.