Green Party wants to slam the brakes on UK datacenter construction until water and energy use are sorted
Tree huggers aim to end blanket critical infrastructure status for bit barns and ensure environmental standards are met
The Green Party of England and Wales is urging the government to halt the construction of new datacenters until water and energy usage is addressed. Currently, datacenters are designated as critical national infrastructure (CNI) in the UK, placing them on par with essential services like water and power. This designation grants them the same special protections, which may also make developers less likely to face local objections.
The Green Party argues that CNI status grants datacenters precedence over households during water and energy shortages, citing cases where over 27 million people in England are currently facing drought restrictions.
Leader Zack Polanski of the Green Party emphasized the need to "slam the brakes on the rampant building of new datacenters," which could lead to water shortages and increased energy costs. He also called for planning permission to be granted only if developers meet stringent environmental standards and receive full community consultation. Polanski argued that datacenters should serve the public, not private interests, and should not receive special treatment for water and electricity access.
The party highlighted the potential strain on the UK's water supply, noting that a single large datacenter can consume up to 1.5 million liters of water daily, equivalent to the needs of a town of around 10,000 people. With rapid expansion projected, particularly in water-stressed regions like London and the South East, the party warns that datacenters could compete with homes and businesses for water resources.
Government officials, however, cautioned against a complete ban on new datacenters, suggesting that such a move would harm jobs and national security by forcing sensitive data processing overseas. The Green Party also urged the government to develop a comprehensive national strategy for AI infrastructure, as the UK currently relies on foreign-owned infrastructure for critical services such as healthcare and public safety.
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