Trump says China is driving opposition to data centres. These residents disagree
On the tree-lined streets of Sterling, northern Virginia, Lindsay Shaw’s home sits across from an industrial neighbour that has consumed the past several years of her life: a data centre. When Shaw sits outside, she can hear its constant hum. At night, the security lights blaze through her window, making it harder to sleep. Gas turbines, diesel fumes, and 24/7 industrial noise have choked Shaw’s…
In the tree-lined streets of Sterling, Virginia, residents like Lindsay Shaw have endured the constant hum of a nearby data centre, which has caused sleep disturbances and nightly light disruptions. The data centre's arrival has coincided with an uptick in local opposition, fuelled by claims that China is driving the resistance.
However, for Shaw and her husband, who have backgrounds in cybersecurity, the data centre's impact was only apparent once it was operational, with gas turbines, diesel fumes, and 24/7 industrial noise becoming an everyday reality. While China may be attempting to exploit genuine domestic grievances, ASPI's Bethany Allen argues it is "literally impossible for anyone to have created that through an astroturf campaign".
Trump and other Republican lawmakers have also blamed China for the community resistance, but Sterling resident Jessica Medeiros dismisses such claims as unfounded, focusing instead on everyday quality-of-life issues.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
