PRINCE FREDERICK, Md. — Part of the conversation around data centers in Calvert County has been about possible noise disruptions, especially following reports of nonstop noise in areas in Texas and beyond that disrupt quality of life.
Data center developers say they can mitigate sound issues with careful building plans, and some regions around the country are putting this into practice, and that sound is typically the same decibel level as a vacuum cleaner.
But in addition to people who live near data centers reporting a “constant humming,” experts worry about infrasound, a type of sound below 20 Hz that’s on the lower limit of human hearing. Infrasound is often inaudible but is made up of long, high-energy waves that allow it to travel long distances and pass through obstacles easily, making it difficult to stop its movement with walls or structures.
Infrasound causes anxiety, headaches, nausea, and dizziness. It cannot be heard but is felt in the body as vibrations or pressure. And, notably for Calvert County, infrasound is also carried through water, creating potential drastic impacts for the wildlife in the area.
At the April 15 special joint meeting of the Calvert County Environmental Commission and Planning Commission, Dr. Janette Wysocki outlined some of the issues.
“There are limited studies on infrasound impacting animals,” Dr. Wysocki said, pointing out that the water-based ecosystem could be affected. “Bats will be impacted by any noise because of their echolocation. And we need them to eat the mosquitoes. Noise can also interfere with communication patterns with birds that talk to each other across a continuous landscape. It could impact migration, mating. And since we have such a narrow peninsula, if we affect all the animals who live here it could impact us to the point where we could face an ecosystem collapse.”
Dr. Wysocki also pointed out that in a farming community, infrasound could impact the bees that are necessary to make farms work.
Environmental Commission member Dr. Andy Rogers said he knew from his time conducting noise studies for the United States Navy that most studies will use a 24-hour average decibel level in their study and said the company would likely use that number to “whitewash” the impacts.
“But that’s not useful for the things we care about, like kids being in school for 8 hours in a day. You’d get quite a different answer for what the kids and animals would ever experience.”
In most places, developers do not test for infrasound levels because they don’t have to. Calvert’s own text amendments do not include requirements for infrasound levels.
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When reviewing the mission statement of the purpose and intent of the formation of a Board of County commissioners one of their focus’s is attending to the quality of life of the population of those they serve .
This article is enough reason to show we do not want nor need data centers in Calvert . Data Centers WILL negatively affect the population.
The fact that you used “possible” in your title of the article is telling. It is eminent and the harmful sound can travel 2.5-3 miles. Natural or man made barriers do not stop it.
This is one of many reasons data centers should not be built in Calvert or anywhere in the state. There’s not enough testing or regulations; data centers pollute the environment and drain energy. The damage to wildlife is irreversible and no one has any long-term studies on how the noise physically and mentally impact people. Plus, what does this do to property values? Any homes in the in the vicinity of a data center will be unsellable.
Sound isnt the only problem. The smell of deisel when back-up generators turn on.is another. Light pollution is another issue. Higher costs and reduced availability of power and water for local residents is yet another problem. All of these factors contribute to causing property values to drop. These monstrosities need need to be built in the middle of nowhere….preferably, deep underground.
We don’t want or need these. Our commissioners have been bought. I hope we’ve all seen the movie Ants.
Not going to stop them so get over it
Infrasound is yet another reason to just say NO to data centers. A top priority of elected leaders is to protect their constituents. Drinking water is finite, higher electric bills to support AI and bitcoin aren’t wanted, bright lights, noise, and now infrasound are mentally unhealthy. Jobs are few after a data center is up and running. In the long run, and even the short run, a data center or centers can be detrimental to humans and the natural environment. Vote NO!