Data centers are swapping water for forever chemicals to keep AI cool

September 22, 2026

A data center in Northern Ireland

(Fortune) – The midterms are six weeks away and Republicans are walking a fine line between meeting constituents in opposition to data center growth and agreeing with the president who continues to advocate for them. Now there seems to be another wrinkle to the ongoing data center backlash: the release of “forever chemicals” into the air. 

A new report from chemical watchdog ChemSec found that most of the world’s biggest PFAS producers are expanding their capacity thanks to AI infrastructure. (Read More)