Tokyo residents opposed to a planned logistics and data centre complex announced the creation of a lawsuit group on Tuesday and expect to file a civil case this year against GLP Japan to halt the project.
The lawsuit is Japan’s first civil lawsuit against a data centre operator.
The planned 3.63-million-megawatt data centre development in Akishima, western Tokyo includes three logistics buildings and eight data centre buildings.
Residents are concerned the data centre would threaten wildlife, drain their water supply, generate pollution and cause a spike in electricity usage.
The planned lawsuit follows years of campaigning that residents say has not changed GLP’s plans.
It underscores the growing friction between Japan’s push to expand digital infrastructure and local residents concerned about the environmental and social impact of data centre development.
Reuters
