Companion map

The Coming Data Center Sacrifice Zones

Regional projections for 2030 based on current trajectory. Severity score combines water stress, grid strain, and share of regional resources consumed.

Moderate stress

High stress

Severe stress

Critical / sacrifice zone

Sources: IEA Energy and AI Report (2025), Houston Advanced Research Center (Texas), UC Riverside Ren et al., Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, Brookings Institution. Severity scoring combines projected 2030 water consumption, share of regional electricity grid consumed by data centers, and pre-existing water stress.