Data Centers, Environmental Racism, and the Fight for Justice with Env. Scientist Kibri Everett

In this episode, I get to talk with Kibri Everett - environmental scientist, GIS specialist, PhD candidate at UNC-Charlotte, and founder of Key Environmental Consulting - to pull back the curtain on the data center boom sweeping the nation.

Kibri has been on the front lines of this issue long before it hit the headlines. She recently testified before the Charlotte City Council, helping to secure a unanimous vote for a 150-day moratorium on new data centers - a major grassroots win. In this conversation, she breaks down what that fight looked like and why it matters far beyond Charlotte:

How data centers consume staggering amounts of water and energy while gobbling up land in majority-minority communities
The xAI/Memphis nightmare, where hundreds of diesel generators are spewing air pollution in a historically Black neighborhood
Why the AI revolution is an environmental justice crisis, with hyperscale facilities are targeting the same communities that have always been sacrificed for industrial development
What the Charlotte moratorium actually accomplished, and why 150 days is just a start
Practical strategy for communities facing a data center proposal: where to organize, who to call, and how to bring data-driven expertise to your fight

Kibri also shares how her company helps community groups arm themselves with the technical knowledge they need to stand up to billion-dollar tech companies, and why strength in numbers is the most powerful tool we’ve got.

If you’ve ever wondered what’s really powering the AI boom, and whether your community could be next on the list, this episode is essential listening.

Follow Kibri Everett:
Key Environmental Consulting
LinkedIn
HBCU Environmental Justice Technical Collaborative

Resources:
Charlotte, NC approves data center moratorium - The Charlotte Observer
"Stop Dirty Data Centers" Campaign - NAACP
$64 billion of data center projects have been blocked or delayed amid local opposition - Data Center Watch

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Connect with our Environmental Justice Lab community:
Instagram: @envjusticelab
YouTube: @envjusticelab
Email: theenvironmentaljusticelab@gmail.com

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