Position Statement on AI Data Centers in New Hampshire (September 14, 2026)
NH Healthy Climate opposes the building of high-energy-demand artificial intelligence (AI) Data Centers unless and until they are powered by new dedicated clean-energy sources.
NH Healthy Climate is a New Hampshire-based nonprofit whose mission is “to provide New Hampshire healthcare workers the tools to educate and mobilize the public in support of climate solutions to improve health for all.” We acknowledge AI as a powerful tool but warn that its physical infrastructure, including energy and water-heavy data centers, puts real pressure on nature, climate and communities and must be properly planned and governed. Unmitigated growth of AI data centers threatens to increase household electricity costs, worsen air pollution, infringe on local water supplies, and slow the clean energy transition.
As healthcare workers, our highest concern is for the impact on health which AI Data Centers pose. Since AI Data Centers are a relatively new phenomena, data on health impacts is limited. Physicians for Social Responsibility recently identified the following environmental burdens with a correlated impact on health:
Air Emissions/Pollution, if the energy source is fossil fuel based, it will exacerbate respiratory illnesses, such as asthma and COPD. This pollution increases risk of cardiovascular disease, reduced lung function and premature death. This is in addition to contributing substantially to our accelerating climate change and its associated health impacts due to their carbon dioxide pollution.
Noise Pollution associated with the running of hundreds of servers will lead to sleep disruption, stress, elevated blood pressure and potential cognitive impact in children living nearby.
Light Pollution from 24/7 operations will impact quality of life for nearby residents and local fauna, leading to sleep disruption, circadian rhythm disturbance and depression due to melatonin suppression.
Heat Island Effect created by the Centers will exacerbate heat-related illnesses during high heat days for residents within several miles.
NH Healthy Climate calls for a moratorium on building AI Data Centers in New Hampshire unless they are required to develop and generate their own power from dedicated and new clean energy sources, and do not burden ratepayers with increased energy costs. While it is most prudent to wait until better technologies exist, if any new plant is proposed to have a qualifying clean energy supply, this facility plan should be subject to a rigorous environmental review process that discloses and mitigates potential impacts on clean water supply, land, noise and light pollution to local communities. If constructed, subsequent monitoring should be undertaken on health and environmental impacts and mitigations adopted if risks are disclosed.