Interactive Map Reveals Data Centers Near You

When Oregon resident Isabelle Reksopuro learned that Google was acquiring public land to support its expanding data center operations in her home state, she found herself uncertain about the veracity of the claims circulating in her community. "There's a lot of misinformation about data centers," she explained during a recent interview. "Google has denied taking that land." This confusion prompted her to take action and seek clarity on a complex issue affecting communities across America.

The situation in Oregon exemplifies a broader challenge facing many communities nationwide. Reksopuro discovered that the technical reality was more nuanced than initial reports suggested. The city of The Dalles, strategically positioned near the Washington state border, had actually sought to reclaim the contested land from federal ownership. In this scenario, Google wasn't directly acquiring the property but rather functioning as a substantial, albeit unnamed, power consumer. The municipality had formally requested ownership of a 150-acre parcel within Mount Hood National Forest, justifying the request by citing its need for access to Mount Hood's crucial watershed to satisfy the growing municipal requirements of its population, which numbered 16,010 residents according to the 2020 census.

Understanding these complexities inspired Reksopuro to create a comprehensive solution. She developed an interactive map that tracks data center construction projects and related AI policy developments across the United States. This innovative tool provides residents, policymakers, and researchers with unprecedented visibility into where these facilities are being built and how they're impacting local communities. The map represents a significant contribution to public understanding of an often-opaque industry that's becoming increasingly central to America's technological infrastructure.

The creation of this mapping tool addresses a genuine information gap that exists in many regions. Data centers have become essential infrastructure for cloud computing, artificial intelligence training, and digital services that billions of people rely on daily. However, their expansion often occurs with limited public awareness or community input. By making this information accessible through an interactive visualization, Reksopuro has empowered ordinary citizens to understand what's happening in their own backyards and to engage more meaningfully in discussions about development, resource use, and environmental impact.

Google's data center operations have expanded significantly in recent years, driven largely by the explosive growth in demand for cloud services and artificial intelligence capabilities. The company has invested billions of dollars in expanding its infrastructure footprint, with facilities now spanning multiple continents. In the Pacific Northwest specifically, Google has established a major presence, recognizing the region's advantages including abundant hydroelectric power, cooler climates that reduce cooling costs, and access to fiber optic networks. However, this expansion has raised legitimate concerns among local residents and environmental advocates about water usage, land consumption, and the transformation of communities.

The data center industry as a whole faces mounting pressure to address its environmental footprint and demonstrate responsible community engagement. These facilities consume enormous quantities of electricity and water—resources that are increasingly precious in many regions experiencing drought and climate stress. The Mount Hood situation exemplifies these tensions, as water access is a critical resource that communities jealously guard. When large technology companies require access to pristine watersheds, conflicts inevitably arise between corporate expansion and community preservation.

Reksopuro's map serves another crucial function: it illuminates the patchwork of AI policy decisions being made at local, state, and federal levels. As artificial intelligence capabilities accelerate, governments worldwide are grappling with how to regulate the technology while remaining competitive. Some jurisdictions offer incentives to attract data centers, viewing them as sources of economic development and jobs. Others have imposed restrictions or demanded environmental safeguards. By visualizing these policy differences geographically, the map reveals how inconsistent regulatory approaches are across the country, and how some communities are better positioned than others to manage the impacts of rapid technological expansion.

The project also highlights the importance of transparency in corporate expansion. When companies like Google undertake major infrastructure projects, communities deserve clear, accessible information about what's planned, when it will happen, and what the expected impacts will be. Traditional sources of information—local news outlets, government announcements, corporate press releases—often fail to present a comprehensive, visual understanding of broader trends. An interactive map changes this dynamic by allowing individuals to zoom in on their own neighborhood while also zooming out to see regional and national patterns.

For policymakers and urban planners, Reksopuro's tool provides valuable data for informed decision-making. Rather than approving data center projects in isolation, communities can now see how their decisions fit into a larger landscape of development. They can learn from the experiences of other regions, understand what policies have proven effective, and anticipate future challenges. This democratization of information is particularly important given the technical complexity of data center operations and the significant resources that large technology companies can dedicate to influencing local policy discussions.

The broader implications of Reksopuro's initiative extend beyond any single company or region. As artificial intelligence continues to transform industries and societies, the infrastructure supporting these technologies will become increasingly visible and contested. Communities will demand to know what's being built, where, and at what cost. Environmental advocates will scrutinize water usage and energy consumption. Workers will seek assurances that development brings genuine economic opportunity. An informed public, armed with tools like this interactive map, is far better equipped to navigate these complex negotiations than one reliant on fragmented information sources.

The success of projects like this ultimately depends on their accessibility and accuracy. Reksopuro has made her map freely available to the public, recognizing that information about public lands and community-affecting decisions should not be locked behind paywalls or accessible only to those with specialized expertise. As more citizens engage with the tool, they can contribute updates, corrections, and additional information, making it an evolving repository of knowledge about how our technological infrastructure is expanding and changing.

Moving forward, initiatives like this map will likely become increasingly common as citizens demand greater visibility into corporate activities that affect their communities. The combination of public concern, technological capability, and individual initiative—exemplified by Reksopuro's work—suggests a future where opacity is no longer acceptable and where communities can advocate effectively for their interests. Whether the expansion of data center infrastructure proceeds as currently planned, or whether communities successfully demand modifications to protect local resources and values, will depend largely on how well-informed and engaged the public becomes.