Data center backlash exposes climate reckoning gap, Wired analysis finds

September 27, 2026 at 03:00 PM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

Climate Week panel on AI data centers was repeatedly disrupted by Extinction Rebellion NYC protesters. Panelists from Crusoe and Emerald AI responded to local concerns about tax base and grid benefits. The protest reflects months of public backlash and moratoriums across US states.

Key Facts

Extinction Rebellion NYC protesters interrupted a Climate Week panel on AI data centers for about 10 minutes.
Crusoe cofounder Cully Cavness said protesters likely did not live near a data center and did not understand local tax benefits.
Emerald AI's Varun Sivaram said data centers could become 'good citizens' by lowering bills and bringing clean energy online.
Data center moratoriums have appeared in both Republican- and Democratic-leaning US states.

Climate Week Disruption

A Climate Week panel featuring tech executives working on AI and data centers was interrupted within the first minute by a protester shouting that running on fracked gas is a lie. Security removed the first protester, but Extinction Rebellion NYC members continued staggered interruptions for about 10 minutes. Panelists attempted to continue their conversation while protesters yelled about various harms of AI.

Industry Response

Crusoe cofounder Cully Cavness told the moderator he was still thinking about the interruption several minutes after the last protester was removed. Cavness said he assumed most protesters did not live near a data center and did not understand the benefits to the local tax base. Emerald AI's Varun Sivaram said data centers could become 'good citizens' by working on the grid to lower bills and bring more clean energy online. Sivaram cautioned that depriving communities of data centers could deprive them of good actors to help transform the grid.

Broader Backlash

The protest was a microcosm of a tough few months for data center defenders, with public opinion at rock-bottom levels. Moratoriums on data centers have appeared in both Republican- and Democratic-leaning states. Local concerns, rather than climate change, have dominated the national conversation around data center dissent.