As Jeff Davis County continues discussing the possibility of data center development, questions have centered on potential economic benefits, water consumption and electricity demand. Another issue communities across the country have encountered is one that may not be as obvious until a facility is operating: noise. A March 2026 report from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) examines noise associated with data centers, experiences of communities where facilities have been built near homes, and measures that can be considered during planning and development. The amount and type of noise can vary considerably depending on the facility, its equipment and how close it is to neighboring properties.
Where does the noise come from? Data centers operate around the clock, and the computer equipment inside produces significant heat. Keeping that equipment cool can require fans, chillers and other mechanical cooling systems that operate continuously. According to EESI, those systems can produce a persistent hum or whir that may be audible beyond the property itself. Cooling equipment is not the only potential source.
Data centers generally require backup power to remain operational during electrical outages. Large diesel generators can produce considerable noise when operating or being tested. Some facilities are also beginning to use onsite natural-gas turbines for power, which can create another continuous source of sound.
It’s not always about how “loud” it is. One particularly important point in the EESI report is that community complaints are not necessarily about an extremely loud, occasional sound. Instead, concerns frequently involve the constant nature of the noise — day and night.
Data centers can produce both high- and low-frequency sounds. EESI notes that some low-frequency noise can also be more difficult to adequately capture using conventional sound measurements, potentially complicating enforcement of local noise ordinances. That becomes especially important when a facility operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
What have other communities experienced? EESI highlights several communities where data center or computing-facility noise has resulted in complaints from nearby residents.
In Chandler, Arizona, residents near a data center reported years of problems with a persistent humming sound. The city eventually amended its zoning rules concerning data centers, and noise became one factor in opposition to another proposed facility.
Northern Virginia, home to one of the world’s largest concentrations of data centers, has also experienced conflicts over facilities located near residential areas. EESI cites a Virginia legislative study finding that almost one-third of the state’s data centers were within 200 feet of residentially zoned property.
Similar noise disputes have occurred around large cryptocurrency computing facilities in Arkansas and Texas.
These examples do not mean every data center creates the same noise problems. Facility design, cooling technology, power sources, sound mitigation and—perhaps most importantly—where a facility is located in relation to homes can substantially affect the impact.
Why zoning matters: The EESI report raises another issue communities may want to examine before approving data center development: whether existing noise ordinances were actually written with this type of industrial-scale operation in mind. Many traditional noise ordinances address temporary or familiar sources of excessive noise. A large facility producing lower-frequency mechanical sound continuously can present a different regulatory challenge. That makes zoning and site planning especially important. Rather than waiting for complaints after construction, communities can consider distance from residential areas, appropriate setbacks, buffers, equipment placement and enforceable noise standards during the planning process.
Can data centers be made quieter? Yes. EESI identifies a number of potential noise-reduction measures, including acoustic barriers around facilities, soundproofing around generators and cooling equipment, sound-absorbing building materials and landscaping buffers. Technology can make a difference as well. Some liquid-cooling systems can reduce reliance on the large fans associated with traditional air cooling. Ultimately, however, one of the simplest considerations is location. Greater separation between industrial equipment and homes can reduce the potential for conflicts between facilities and their neighbors.
Questions Worth Asking Locally
As Jeff Davis County evaluates data centers, noise is another issue that can be addressed before a facility is built rather than after residents are living beside one.
Among the questions local leaders and residents may want answered are: How close could a data center be located to a home? What cooling technology would be used? How many generators would be onsite and how often would they be tested? Would onsite power generation be used? What noise limits would apply at the property line? Would independent sound studies be required before and after construction? And what recourse would residents have if a facility exceeded those limits?
Data centers can provide economic opportunities for communities, but experiences elsewhere demonstrate why understanding their infrastructure and potential impacts is important during the planning process. For Jeff Davis County, the question does not have to be simply whether data centers are “good” or “bad.” It can also be: If they come here, what safeguards should be established beforehand to protect both economic opportunity and the quality of life of the people who already call the community home?
Source: Environmental and Energy Study Institute, “Communities Are Raising Noise Pollution Concerns About Data Centers,” Miguel Yañez-Barnuevo, March 23, 2026. Read the full article
