Erin Brockovich is an American environmental activist, consumer advocate, and former legal clerk. She became a household name in the 1990s for her pivotal role in building a massive legal case against a major utility company despite having no formal legal training.
Her underdog story was adapted into the Oscar-winning 2000 film Erin Brockovich, where she was portrayed by Julia Roberts.
Brockovich continues to work as an environmental consultant and public speaker. She runs her own research firm and remains heavily involved in consumer advocacy, frequently investigating community water contamination issues, pharmaceutical claims, and environmental disasters across the globe.
Brockovich appeared on the Sean Ryan Podcast and discussed another reason for concern about the growing expansion of AI Data Centers across the country: Water.
“Some data centers can use up to 30 million gallons of water a day. They’re utilizing water from aquifers and municipal waters, and people with their own wells are reporting that their wells are running dry. They’re having to dig deeper because of these mass amounts of water that these data centers require to stay cool. Communities can handle the truth. They will ask questions, they will sit at the table, and they will work with you. But they can never, ever handle the lie. There was no community input on this. You slid it under the table. You did it in the dark of the night. We didn’t even have a chance. We didn’t even have a voice,” said Brockovich on the Sean Ryan Podcast.
NY Governor Kathy Hochul signed an executive order banning new data centers in New York State for one year.