{"id":84117,"date":"2026-09-17T13:58:19","date_gmt":"2026-09-17T16:58:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/?p=84117"},"modified":"2026-09-24T16:03:39","modified_gmt":"2026-09-24T19:03:39","slug":"the-cloud-has-an-address-data-centers-put-water-electricity-and-land-at-the-center-of-the-debate-in-rio-de-janeiro","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/?p=84117","title":{"rendered":"The \u2018Cloud\u2019 Has an Address: Data Centers Put Water, Electricity and Land at the Center of the Debate in Rio de Janeiro"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"The<\/a>
The Rio AI City project claims to be sustainable: \u201cA grounded approach transforms the data centre into an open, multi-functional campus that reflects Brazil’s dynamic Carioca culture, strong local identity, and environmental richness,\u201d according to Hyphen<\/a>, the international architecture firm that developed the project.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Clique aqui para Portugu\u00eas<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

This article is part of our series reflecting on the impacts of mega-events on Rio de Janeiro\u00a010 years after the 2016 Olympic Games<\/a>.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

As the Rio AI City<\/a> project, a data center complex slated to be the largest in Latin America<\/a>, developed by Elea Data Centers<\/a> in partnership with the City of Rio<\/a> in the Olympic Park area, moves forward, residents find themselves having to debate the project without opportunities for dialogue and understanding with the City. Described as<\/a> \u201cone of the world\u2019s first sustainable AI districts,\u201d the company reports an initial energy capacity of 1.5 GW, with RJO1 in operation and RJO2 under construction, and states that the project will use waterless cooling systems. But won\u2019t a project of this scale generate costs for the population?<\/p>\n

The so-called \u201ccloud,\u201d the global network of servers that store, manage and process all of our data on the Internet, relies on infrastructure that occupies physical space: buildings, servers, cables, substations, cooling systems and a continuous supply of electricity.<\/p>\n

What this physical infrastructure might mean for Brazil\u2019s water, energy and neighborhoods was the focus of the roundtable discussion \u201cImpacts of Data Centers on Brazil\u2019s Water Security<\/a>,\u201d held on August 25 at the Center for Legal and Political Sciences of the Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UniRio) in Botafogo<\/a>. The event brought together Maria das Gra\u00e7as, from the State, Economic Groups and Public Policies research group (ECOPOL), affiliated with UniRio\u2019s Center for Studies and Research on Social Struggles (NELUTAS); Fabrina Furtado, a professor in the Graduate Program in Social Sciences in Development, Agriculture and Society (CPDA) at the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ<\/a>); and Sandra Quintela, an economist and member of the coordinating team at Jubilee South Brazil Network<\/a>. The discussion was moderated by Jo\u00e3o Roberto Lopes Pinto, professor at UniRio\u2019s School of Political Science and coordinator of ECOPOL\/NELUTAS. The event was organized by the Popular Network for Sanitation and Health Monitoring<\/a> and the Cry of the Excluded<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The panel discussed the significant additional physical infrastructure now required by the growth of artificial intelligence and its potential effects on resources and communities<\/a>, especially in areas that have historically suffered from lack of water<\/a>, electricity<\/a> and sufficient housing<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Roundtable<\/a>
Roundtable discussion \u201cImpacts of Data Centers on Brazil\u2019s Water Security,\u201d held on August 25 at the Center for Legal and Political Sciences of the Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UniRio) in Botafogo. Photo: Felipe Migliani<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It was precisely the idea of a seemingly immaterial technology that sparked the discussion. Maria das Gra\u00e7as presented the results of research on the \u201cmateriality of the cloud\u201d and compared data centers to a \u201cdigital factory floor\u201d: highly automated structures with servers operating continuously and a constant need to dissipate the heat generated by processing.<\/p>\n

In her assessment, the State is not merely a regulator. Federal, state and municipal policies have been creating incentives, regulations and infrastructure to attract large-scale projects. Das Gra\u00e7as questioned, however, what preliminary studies, social compensation measures and environmental safeguards accompany this process.<\/p>\n

By bringing the debate to Rio, she contrasted the need for operational continuity at these facilities with the reality of communities that face water supply shortages<\/a> and inadequate sanitation<\/a>. For the researcher, the issue is not limited to the technology used inside the buildings, but also involves the priorities established for the use of public infrastructure and resources.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe cloud isn\u2019t in the sky, it\u2019s on the ground.\u201d \u2014 Fabrina Furtado<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

According to the UFRRJ researcher, focusing solely on a data center\u2019s direct water consumption may overlook other stages in the chain that support digital infrastructure.<\/p>\n

She cited electricity generation, equipment manufacturing, mineral extraction<\/a> and the construction and maintenance of data centers. The question, therefore, would not be merely \u201chow much water\u201d a facility uses, but where and how the resources needed for its operation are sourced and which communities live with these processes.<\/p>\n

The professor also questioned the use of labels such as \u201cgreen\u201d or \u201csustainable\u201d<\/a> in isolation. The use of electricity from renewable sources or more efficient technologies, she said, does not eliminate the need to examine how the energy infrastructure was built and what territorial conflicts may accompany it.<\/p>\n

The northeastern state of Cear\u00e1<\/a> was given as a concrete example. The Pec\u00e9m Data Center<\/a>, located in Caucaia in the Fortaleza<\/a> metropolitan area, is part of a project associated with ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok. In May, the Federal Public Prosecutor\u2019s Office (MPF<\/a>) and the Federal Public Defender\u2019s Office (DPU<\/a>) recommended adjustments to its environmental licensing process before the start of operations. Both agencies identified weaknesses in the environmental assessment, demanded consultation with the Anac\u00e9<\/a> Indigenous people and other traditional communities and called for enhanced monitoring of water, electricity supply, archaeological and socio-environmental issues.<\/p>\n

For Furtado, cases like the one in Caucaia serve as a reminder that large-scale development projects do not arrive in \u201cempty areas.\u201d They are established in places where communities, ways of life, other infrastructure and pre-existing conflicts already exist.<\/p>\n

Sandra Quintela broadened the discussion to include the impacts perceived by residents living near large facilities. In addition to water and electricity, she highlighted land use<\/a>, urban planning<\/a>, noise<\/a>, vibration<\/a>, electronic waste<\/a> and quality of life<\/a>. According to her, these issues tend to be addressed and regulated by different government agencies, without an integrated assessment of their cumulative effects.<\/p>\n

\"Cases<\/a>
Cases involving the expansion of data centers and conflicts related to infrastructure, natural resources and land were presented during the event. Photo: Felipe Migliani<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The economist mentioned movements in the United States<\/a> against the expansion of data centers and argued that international experiences should serve as a warning to Brazil<\/a>. She also linked the rush for new projects to competition among states and municipalities for investments, tax incentives, land and infrastructure.<\/p>\n

The promise of job creation was another point questioned during the roundtable discussion. Participants distinguished between jobs created during the construction of data centers and those maintained after highly automated facilities begin operations. They called for greater transparency<\/a> regarding the economic commitments made by these projects because, after all, there are few long-term jobs<\/a> associated with these facilities.<\/p>\n

This concern was also reflected in audience participation. Licinio Machado Rog\u00e9rio, president of the Federation of Residents\u2019 Associations of the Municipality of Rio de Janeiro (FAM-Rio<\/a>) and one of the coordinators of the Urban Mobility Forum<\/a>, argued that water and electricity consumption, noise and the actual generation of jobs should be discussed before projects are presented to the public merely as a sign of development, as is usually the case<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Toward the end, the panelists returned to the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence. Furtado warned that focusing responsibility on the individual use of digital tools could shift the discussion away from the corporate scale of the technology and from decisions made by companies and governments regarding where and under what conditions to install the infrastructure that supports it.<\/p>\n

The discussion concluded by reinforcing an idea that ran through the presentations: what appears to be immaterial on screens depends on concrete structures and decisions regarding electricity, water, land use and public investment. For the participants, this discussion needs to take place before the projects are firmly established.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat comes first? The thirst of machines or the lives and basic needs of our populations?\u201d \u2014 Maria das Gra\u00e7as<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

About the author:<\/em>\u00a0Felipe Migliani<\/i><\/a>\u00a0has an undergraduate degree in journalism from Unicarioca and post-grad in Investigative Journalism and Data Journalism. He works as a reporter and media advisor, having published stories with outlets such as Meia Hora, Estad\u00e3o, Ag\u00eancia Lume, PerifaConnection, Ambiental Media,\u00a0G\u00eanero e N\u00famero, Olhos Jornalismo and ND Mais.<\/em><\/i>
\n<\/i><\/p>\n

\n

Support\u00a0RioOnWatch\u2019s tireless, critical and cutting-edge hyperlocal journalism, online community organizing meetings, and direct support to favelas\u00a0by clicking here<\/a>.<\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Clique aqui para Portugu\u00eas This article is part of our series reflecting on the impacts of mega-events on Rio de Janeiro\u00a010 years after the 2016 Olympic Games.\u00a0 As the Rio AI City project, a data […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":245,"featured_media":84118,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-full.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2315,1668,1288,1328,1333],"tags":[184,428,1112,1172,1278,715,1033,673,618,2773,69,3777,2418,1402,2323,2809,398,1353,370],"writer":[3512],"translator":[3192],"illustrator":[],"photographer":[3920],"class_list":{"0":"post-84117","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-legacywatch","8":"category-participationwatch","9":"category-highlight","10":"category-by-community-contributors","11":"category-event-reports","12":"tag-ceara","13":"tag-employment","14":"tag-famerj","15":"tag-fortaleza","16":"tag-income","17":"tag-indigenous","18":"tag-land-rights","19":"tag-misplaced-public-priorities","20":"tag-neighborhood-association","21":"tag-prosecutors-office","22":"tag-public-defenders","23":"tag-rede-de-vigilancia-popular-em-saneamento-e-saude","24":"tag-right-to-water","25":"tag-legacy","26":"tag-ufrj","27":"tag-ufrrj","28":"tag-university","29":"tag-usa","30":"tag-water","31":"writer-felipe-migliani","32":"translator-ikrom-alajoulin","33":"photographer-felipe-migliani"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/84117","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/245"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=84117"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/84117\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":84188,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/84117\/revisions\/84188"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/84118"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=84117"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=84117"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=84117"},{"taxonomy":"writer","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fwriter&post=84117"},{"taxonomy":"translator","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftranslator&post=84117"},{"taxonomy":"illustrator","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fillustrator&post=84117"},{"taxonomy":"photographer","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fphotographer&post=84117"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}