Bikers and environmental groups unite against Google data center in the UK

An unusual coalition is trying to stop Google from building a data center campus in Thurrock, east of London. The group includes conservation organization Buglife, local wildlife groups, nonprofit Foxglove, and the Thurrock Hammers motorcycle club. They cite the possible loss of habitat for rare plants and animals, pollution, and the loss of a racing track on the site; the club also wants to race there again. A petition opposing the project has collected almost 55,000 signatures, according to Wired.

Google acquired the site through a subsidiary in 2023 and applied for permission to build the campus. The opposition group says the development could produce up to 570,000 tonnes of emissions a year. Google says its plans prioritize biodiversity and emissions reduction, and that the objections are based on misconceptions about the project. The dispute comes amid protests against data centers elsewhere in Europe, according to Wired.