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What Does an AI Data Center Really Cost the Environment?

UVU expert Hilary Hungerford examines the environmental footprint behind the AI boom.

Sep 30, 2026

2 min

Hilary Hungerford, Ph.D.

Artificial intelligence may live in the cloud, but the infrastructure powering it has a very real footprint on the ground.


As the race to build the massive data centers needed to support AI accelerates, their demands on electricity, water and local infrastructure are drawing increasing attention. Reuters reports that proposed AI data centers in Silicon Valley are facing resistance from residents and environmental groups concerned about water consumption, energy use, air pollution and the broader impact on their communities.


Those concerns are becoming increasingly relevant as communities across the country weigh the economic opportunities associated with AI infrastructure against its environmental costs.



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Dr. Hilary Hungerford is a human geographer whose research explores the relationships between people and their environments, with a particular focus on the role of water in shaping those connections. She is an expert in the areas of human geography, sustainability, climate change, urban geography, and the geography of Utah.


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Dr. Hilary Hungerford, a professor of geography at Utah Valley University, studies the intersection between people and their environments, with particular expertise in water, sustainability and urban geography. Her research has examined water use by the technology industry in Utah and the relationship between water, infrastructure and technology industries in urban environments.



Her expertise raises important questions as the AI data center boom continues: How much pressure can these facilities place on local water and energy supplies? What does rapid data center development mean for communities already facing water constraints? And how should cities balance economic development with sustainability and the long-term availability of natural resources?


As communities confront the physical infrastructure required to power the AI revolution, Hungerford can provide important context on the environmental impacts that can accompany technological growth.


If you’re interested in speaking with Hilary Hungerford about data centers, water use, sustainability and the environmental impact of the AI boom, click on her profile below.

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Hilary Hungerford, Ph.D.

Hilary Hungerford, Ph.D.

Faculty Member

Hungerford is an expert in human geography, sustainability, climate change, urban geography, and the geography of Utah

Water and International DevelopmentUrban GeographyClimate ChangeSustainabilityHuman Geography
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