Cities around the country are being forced to house expensive, polluting data centers, providing resources to giant Al corporations who don't care about the harm they cause. Like for other harmful developers, Woonsocket is a prime target for these exploitive corporations because they believe we don't have the power to fight back. So it's time we get ahead of this and fight back.

Our community doesn't need another uncontrollable environmental nightmare like the sewage treatment plant. Our religious leaders - including Pope Leo - have spoken crystal clear against Al infrastructure. And energy prices are too high already!

So we're calling on the Woonsocket City Council to pass a moratorium on data centers, prohibiting the construction of this harmful infrastructure anywhere in our city. Add your name to join the call!

Read on to learn more about why we should all care, and what we're proposing!

1. We don't need Sewage Treatment Plant 2.0. We've suffered dirty air and water for years because of that plant. Data centers are an environmental nightmare, and we deserve better than having to feed big corporations who aren't accountable to our wellbeing. We're on track to get rid of that plant - the last thing we need is something worse.
2. The Pope said so. Pope Leo has spoken clearly about the damage from Al and the data centers that enable it. So have faith leaders from across denominations and traditions. We have a moral imperative to oppose this harmful technology, and the best place to do that is right here at home.
3. Energy prices are high enough already! Data centers use enormous amounts of electricity and water, and have a documented history of drastically increasing energy prices in the surrounding community. We couldn't afford this if we wanted to.

We're calling on the Woonsocket City Council to pass a moratorium on data centers, prohibiting the construction of this harmful infrastructure anywhere in our city.

Because these Al companies are sneaky and rich, and may try to use the courts to get through a moratorium, we're also calling for 3 additional protective measures for would-be data centers:

1. Require them to supply their own (non-polluting) electricity, mandating them to build renewable energy capacity to meet 100% of their usage on the same land they're already developing.
2. Deprioritize their water supply, so in the case of drought or water limits, they get cut off first.
3. Mandate them to negotiate a Community Benefits Agreement, directing 50% of their lifetime net profits to community organizations in Woonsocket.