About the event

Hundreds of data centers already operate across the Northwest, and AI-focused facilities - especially those supporting large language models (LLMs) and other generative AI tools - require tremendous amounts of electricity and water. These centers are frequently built in rural areas where land and resources are readily available, but they often bring limited long‑term economic benefits or local job growth. At the same time, the environmental impacts can be significant. For example, Google now consumes over one‑third of The Dalles, Oregon’s water supply, with its usage increasing 316% since 2012 - while the city’s population has grown only 12%.

On this call, we are joined by the NAACP Environmental and Climate Justice team, who work with communities across the country to better understand issues of AI data centers and ensure the impact of data centers on local residents won't outweigh the proposed benefits. We will explore the impact of data centers on communities and learn about NAACP’s Stop Dirty Data Centers campaign to support communities with community-based policy change, mobilization and advocacy needs as well as negotiating with companies and local officials for favorable local benefits and outcomes.

Speakers

Headshot of Abre Conner over a gray background.

Abre' Conner

Director, Center for Environmental and Climate Justice, NAACP Climate Justice Initiative

Abre' Conner, Esq. is the director of the center for environmental and climate justice, and oversees the strategy and collaboration across the NAACP to dismantle environmental racism. She has taught education law and was faculty in the environmental policy and management program at the University of California-Davis.
Headshot of Jonathan "JT" Jones-Thomas with long dreadlocks and a beard looking off to the side. He wears a navy T-shirt with “NAACP” printed on it and a beaded necklace with a pendant, standing against a neutral outdoor background.

Jonathan "JT" Jones-Thomas

Environmental & Climate Justice Chairman, NAACP Climate Justice Initiative

Jonathan "JT" Jones-Thomas serves as the Environmental & Climate Justice Chairman for the NAACP State Area Conference representing Alaska, Oregon and Washington. In this role, he advances environmental and climate justice policy, advocacy and community-based solutions that address disproportionate environmental burdens impacting Black communities and other historically marginalized populations across the Pacific Northwest and Alaska region. JT’s work centers on the intersection of civil rights and environmental protection. He advocates for equitable air quality standards, clean water infrastructure, climate resiliency planning, asthma prevention, energy justice and equitable access to green workforce development pathways. His leadership emphasizes the principle that environmental justice is civil rights work — ensuring that communities most impacted by pollution and climate change are prioritized in policy design, funding allocation and implementation

Eligibility

These calls are open for anyone to join. You don’t have to be from a philanthropic organization or a member of Philanthropy Northwest, but please note these conversations are framed around philanthropy, and the role philanthropy might play around a particular issue.

Accessibility

Philanthropy Northwest strives to ensure that virtual programming is inclusive and accessible to everyone. If there is any accommodation that you may need provided, or barrier that may prevent you from fully participating in this event, please don’t hesitate to direct your requests to our programs team.

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