Investors Pressure Big Tech Over Data Center Water, Power Use
Major investors are increasing pressure on Amazon, Microsoft and Google to disclose more information about the environmental impact of their rapidly expanding data center operations in the United States.
The scrutiny comes as several large-scale data center projects have faced community opposition, forcing companies to reconsider or abandon multibillion-dollar developments. Concerns center on rising electricity demand and water consumption driven by artificial intelligence infrastructure.
Investor groups, including Trillium Asset Management, have filed shareholder resolutions seeking clearer reporting on emissions targets and sustainability strategies. Despite prior commitments—such as Google’s goal to halve emissions by 2030—investors note that emissions have instead increased significantly.
Water usage has become a focal issue. Data centers in North America consumed nearly one trillion liters of water in 2025, raising concerns about local resource strain. While companies are adopting more efficient cooling systems, such as closed-loop technologies, reporting standards vary widely across firms.
Meta Platforms has disclosed partial data showing rising water use, while Microsoft reports aggregate figures without site-level breakdowns. Amazon provides efficiency metrics but not total consumption, and Google’s disclosures omit some third-party facilities.
Investors argue that detailed, site-specific data is essential to evaluate operational risks and environmental impact, particularly in regions where water scarcity is a growing concern.
The pressure reflects a broader shift in how shareholders assess Big Tech, balancing strong growth from AI-driven infrastructure with long-term environmental and regulatory risks. As data center expansion accelerates, transparency and community engagement are becoming critical factors in sustaining that growth.
