Homer City Data Center Plan Raises Water Supply Fears

Plans to build a massive AI-driven data center at the Homer City Generation site in Pennsylvania have sparked concern among local residents, workers, and families. The project, which could draw millions of gallons of water each year, is now under scrutiny for its potential impact on the community’s water supply and environment. For people living nearby, the question isn’t just about technology—it’s about whether their taps will run dry and what this means for their health, jobs, and future.

What Happened

The Homer City Generation plant, once one of the largest coal-fired power stations in the state, is being eyed as the site for a new data center. The company behind the project, not yet named in public filings, plans to repurpose the facility to house thousands of servers, many dedicated to running artificial intelligence (AI) applications. These data centers are notorious for their heavy water and energy use, especially as AI models require constant cooling to prevent overheating.

According to public documents and local news reports, the proposed data center could use between 1 and 5 million gallons of water per day for cooling—enough to supply thousands of households. This has prompted scrutiny from local officials, environmental groups, and families who rely on the same water sources for drinking, farming, and recreation. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has announced it will review the project’s water use permit, citing the need to protect community resources under the state’s Clean Streams Law.

How This Affects Everyday People

For people living in and around Homer City, the stakes are high. Many families depend on local wells and municipal water systems that draw from the same aquifers and rivers the data center would tap. If the center’s water use is as high as projected, residents could face water shortages, higher utility bills, or even boil-water advisories during droughts or peak demand. Local farmers worry about irrigation, while parents are concerned about the safety and availability of water for their children.

There’s also the risk of increased pollution. Data centers often discharge heated water back into rivers, which can harm fish and wildlife and make swimming or fishing unsafe. For students and teachers, this could mean fewer outdoor activities and field trips. Workers at the former power plant, meanwhile, are left wondering if new jobs at the data center will materialize—or if the project will simply bring more stress to an already struggling community.

For a deeper look at how data centers affect water and energy in communities like Homer City, see our explainer on AI's water and energy footprint.

The Bigger Picture

The Homer City controversy is part of a growing national debate over the environmental costs of AI and data centers. Across the U.S., tech giants like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon have faced criticism for building massive server farms that consume huge amounts of water and electricity. In 2023, Google admitted its data centers used over 5 billion gallons of water in a single year, much of it in drought-prone areas. Microsoft’s Quincy, Washington facility has also drawn fire for depleting local water supplies.

Regulators are starting to take note. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has begun studying the cumulative impact of data centers on water resources, but there is no federal limit on how much water a data center can use. Some states, like Oregon and Arizona, have proposed new rules requiring companies to disclose water use and invest in conservation. But enforcement is patchy, and local communities are often left to fight for their own interests.

For more on the rising pushback against AI data centers, visit our coverage of community resistance to AI. And if you want to know how much water AI really uses, check out our explainer on AI water consumption.

What You Can Do

• Stay informed: Attend town hall meetings and read local news to keep up with developments on the Homer City data center project.
• Ask questions: Contact your local representatives and the Pennsylvania DEP to ask how the project will affect water supplies, and what protections are in place.
• Join or support local groups: Environmental groups and neighborhood associations often organize petitions or public comment campaigns. Your voice can make a difference.
• Monitor your water use: Keep track of any changes in your water pressure, taste, or availability, and report issues to local authorities.
• Educate others: Share information with neighbors, teachers, and students about how data centers impact water and energy in your community.

The Bottom Line

The Homer City Generation data center plan is a test case for how AI and big tech might reshape small-town life—not just with new jobs or technology, but with real impacts on water, health, and the environment. As scrutiny grows, it’s up to everyday people to stay involved and make sure their needs come first. The future of AI shouldn’t come at the cost of a community’s most basic resource: clean, reliable water.