HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-09-09 Sarah Anderson Opposition Testimony
From: Sarah Anderson
To: Planning LPC Testimony
Subject: Data Center Zoning Legislation - PL-CCI-2026-000018
Date: Wednesday, September 9, 2026 4:33:41 PM
On the subjects of data center zoning for the Island of Hawaii, my vote is a resolute and
firm NO. Data centers warm the temperature of the surrounding community, are a
massive waste of energy and water, three things this planet and this island absolutely
does NOT NEED.
Data centers have been found by scientists to create “heat islands” that can raise temperatures up
to 3 to 16° Fahrenheit. Because data centers place such a heavy demand on the local electrical
grid and water supply, utility companies often pass the infrastructure upgrade costs onto regular
residents, driving up household bills. As Hawaii already has the highest average electricity bill and
rate in the United States, we clearly do not need further increases to costs.
Nearby residents of current data centers report continuous noise from data centers. No
one wants to live near a data center emitting noise pollution. Not to mention the local
land that will have to be razed to host what I assume will be a large site. “When
operating, data centers emit sounds from the humming of cooling systems and air
chillers, the rumbling of diesel generators, and the whirring of fans. Together, these
sounds can be heard for hundreds of feet around the facilities. Data center neighbors
have reported headaches, vertigo, nausea, sleep disturbances, ear pain, and
hypertension.” (1)
In short, data centers are something I and many other local residents absolutely do not
want to see in our communities. The environmental impacts and costs to residents are
not worth the potential benefits, the only one that comes to mind is potential job creation.
We need to be good stewards of our planet and this is absolutely not the way.
Thank you,
Sarah Anderson
1 -https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/communities-are-raising-noise-pollution-concernsabout-
data-centers