Inside the Greenhouse is a monthly update on FCNL’s environmental advocacy and the climate crisis.
The Data Is Out: Data Centers Are Raising Temperatures Locally
New research from the University of Cambridge reveals that data centers may significantly heat their surrounding environments, creating localized “heat islands.” The report noted that these facilities, which house thousands of servers and require massive amounts of energy for computing and cooling, 20 years of satellite temperature data and compared it to the locations of over 6,000 data centers worldwide. Researchers focused on sites outside dense cities to isolate the impact of the facilities, filtering out other influences like seasonal weather patterns and general global warming trends.
In major data center hubs, including Mexico’s Bajio region and Aragon, Spain, they found consistent temperature increases across regions, more than in comparable nearby areas. The effects extended up to 6.2 miles from each site, potentially impacting more than 340 million people. Experts warn this could worsen heat waves, as rising global temperatures already intensify them.
House Democrats Open Investigation into Suspicious Energy Settlement
Senior House Democrats, including Representatives Jared Huffman (CA-02) and Jamie Raskin (MD-08), launched a claimed it halted projects due to national security risks. However, the Trump administration and TotalEnergies appear to have reached an agreement before any official review of national security concerns, raising the possibility that both were disingenuous and had other reasons.
The lawmakers also note that the payment may violate the Department of Justice’s Judgment Fund: taxpayer money used to pay certain legal settlements. The lawmakers question whether this fund was used improperly, since it is intended for genuine legal disputes. In this case, no formal stop-work order was issued, meaning the government did not direct TotalEnergies to halt immediately all activity on their offshore wind projects.
Overall, this situation looks like a corrupt deal that will raise energy prices for all of us.
Stopping Wind Energy Contracts Over National Security Concerns
The Trump administration has effectively paused most new onshore wind energy development in the United States, citing 165 wind projects on private land are now delayed due to actions by the Department of Defense (DoD).
Wind farms typically need DoD approval to ensure turbines do not interfere with military radar systems. During routine reviews, officials will assess risk. If needed, developers fund upgrades to radar systems so turbines can be properly detected.
However, since August 2025, developers have reported roughly 15 million homes. The administration says it is reviewing how energy projects are evaluated for national security impacts, but the move is likely politically motivated. This policy shift extends federal influence beyond public land into projects on private property.
What We’re Reading:
- The World is Entering a New Era of Wildfire. This Huge Blaze Shows How Hard They are to Tackle | CNN
- ‘Point of No Return’: New Orleans Relocation Must Start Now Due to Sea Level, Study Finds | The Guardian
- How the Rush to Mine the Metal of the Future Echoes America’s Colonial Past | Inside Climate News
- A Strong El Niño May Be Coming. Global Warming Is Changing Its Effects | New York Times
- Trump Administration Sues Minnesota to Block Climate Lawsuit | New York Times
