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“Data Driven” is the latest episode of “Sound Rivers: Riverkeeping Tales from the Neuse & Tar-Pamlico”!

This is a two-part series about the industry powering the rise of artificial intelligence. This is Part 1, in which Pamlico-Tar Riverkeeper Katey Zimmerman talks about environmental impacts, the need for transparency for an industry that sometimes seems to be cloaked in secrecy and how regulations are needed to guide responsible data center development.

In Part 2, we talk to Chatham County Commissioner Karen Howard. Chatham County was one of the first local governments in North Carolina to establish a two-year moratorium on the construction of data centers. We’ll hear from her about why Chatham County put a hold on the process and what local governments should be considering when considering data center proposals.

Listen to Data Driven to learn about the potential impacts on clean water and communities and what’s driving the backlash against the proliferation of proposals for hyperscale data centers across North Carolina. Stay tuned for Part 2!

Listen to it here, or search “riverkeeping” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music. Learn more about (and listen to!) all episodes here!