The datacentre next door: on the frontline of tech’s latest David v Goliath battle
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What's this about?
The AI boom is pitting local residents against corporate giants seeking to power their energy-hungry networks – but one Welsh city is fighting back Dale Johnston opens the gate to his neat suburban garden on the western fringes of Newport in South Wales. There’s a trampoline and a slide on the lawn
The one-panel cartoon
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A suburban garden with a trampoline and slide, a datacentre fence looming in the background, a man in a suit standing at the gate with a clipboard, and a resident looking out from behind the trampoline with a wary expression.
Caption: 'Welcome to the new neighbourhood, sir. Enjoy the fibre-optic hum while you trampoline-hop!'
Read the full 3-panel strip
Based on the original story on theguardian.com.
Editor's note
As the AI industry's demand for data centres grows, so does the risk of local communities facing environmental and quality-of-life impacts. It's encouraging to see residents in Newport proactively engaging to ensure their concerns are heard and addressed in the face of corporate expansion.
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Panel 1
Dale Johnston’s suburban garden in Newport, South Wales. A neat lawn with a trampoline and slide. Dale stands at the gate, holding it open for a delivery person. Dale (to delivery person)
Dale: Hey, thanks for dropping this off. You know what’s been really driving me crazy lately? That new datacentre next door is always buzzing with generators, it’s like living next to a jet engine.
Panel 2
Inside Dale’s living room. A small TV is on, showing a news report about the AI boom and data centres. Dale is sitting on a comfortable couch, rubbing his temples. Dale (to himself, exasperated)
Dale: I thought we’d moved here to get away from the city noise. Now it’s like living next to the world’s biggest power plant, and they’re going to build another one next month? Who even thought this was a good idea?
Panel 3
Dale’s garden again, with the trampoline and slide visible. Dale is now standing in the middle of his lawn, looking up at the sky with a determined expression. A small drone flies overhead. Dale (to the drone)
Dale: Yeah, I know you’re just doing your job, but if you were here, you’d be fighting back too. (turning to the camera) So, Newport: We’re not just going to roll over for these corporate giants. We’re going to make them hear us loud and clear!
Highlight: Dale’s determined stance and defiant dialogue, turning the drone into a symbol of the local resistance against the encroaching data centres.
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