Planners have been urged to refuse a proposed data centre that would replace three underused offices at Thames Valley Park on the outskirts of Reading.
The buildings, occupied by Microsoft, would be demolished to make way for the scheme on the Earley business park.
Neighbours on Facebook have raised major concerns about heat, noise and jobs.
Chris Mac said: "So a fossil-fuelled radiator (the heat has to go somewhere) for Thames Valley Park. Aren't we warm enough already?"
Amy Glynn said: "America is banning data centres because of health problems and environmental problems it is causing in the communities.
"Say no to data centres, they should not be built near built-up areas!"
While it is not correct that the USA has a ban on data centres, there are localised bans at locations in California and Rhode Island, with temporary suspensions on new data centres either being implemented or considered by lawmakers throughout the US.
Information was shared by the project team online and at a consultation event at Pearsons Hall in Sonning on Tuesday, July 7.
Agents say the data centre would be powered by natural gas-fuelled cells and be air-cooled.
Mark Siddall said: "This is a standard playbook for these data centres, making claims about closed-loop cooling systems, noise, electricity and jobs.
"So why are large numbers of communities across the United States actively pushing back against data centres?
"These facilities are now facing growing local resistance over immense water usage, electricity demands, industrial noise pollution, and the realisation that they provide very few permanent, long-term jobs."
The agents stated the project would create 250 jobs during construction and be staffed by 115 full-time employees if it is given the go-ahead.
Brian Higgs said: "Unbelievably, the UK is third in the world in developing AI.
"Building data centres is crucial to continued growth. If anyone thinks that AI is not the future, they must be living under a rock."
Locals questioned why the consultation was held in Sonning. While Thames Valley Park is billed as being in Earley, the site is in Thames ward, which covers Sonning, Charvil, Wargrave, Hare Hatch and Remenham.
There are wider worries about the future of the park. It was named the preferred site for a new Royal Berkshire Hospital in July 2024, but there is scepticism about its ongoing viability.
Regardless, the new hospital programme was revised by the Labour government, with the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust stating there will be little prospect of a new hospital by 2040 anyway.
There is also a separate, not-yet-implemented plan that could turn the Regus office at Thames Valley Park Drive into 94 flats, which would affect future occupiers.
You can view the data centre proposal at https://www.tvpdc.co.uk/. The project is at pre-planning stage; the initial consultation is expected to close at the end of this month and plans are due to be submitted to Wokingham Borough Council in autumn.
James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter
