According to Al Jazeera’s program The Listening Post, the construction of data centers in rural Spain is drawing attention for both its potential benefits and accompanying issues.
Data centers, vital infrastructure for storing and processing digital information, are being heavily invested in rural areas of Spain where land costs are low and renewable energy is abundant. These projects promise jobs, attract investment, and accelerate digital transformation in localities that had been overlooked.
However, the The Listening Post report indicates this development also poses many challenges, including massive water and energy consumption, impacts on the local environment, and increasing inequality as resident communities benefit little from the projects. The program questions whether the economic development promises will truly materialize, or simply be a resource exploitation by big tech corporations.
The report interviews various stakeholders—from investors and local authorities to residents—to offer a comprehensive view of the ongoing debate surrounding data centers in rural Spain.
