Tech giant Amazon has announced it will no longer use nondisclosure agreements, will engage with the public sooner and more frequently, and make water and energy use commitments related to its data center development efforts as public opposition to such projects continues to grow. 

“While there is much (Amazon) (and other data center operators) are already doing,” and simultaneously rejecting some of the claims circulating about how such facilities impact water and energy, Amazon Web Services said its new transparency efforts are aimed at addressing the public’s apprehension.  

“There are clearly areas in which the technology and energy industries can be doing better (along with their government partners) but just like in the past when the country has banded together to accomplish something that’s critical for our national security and economic prosperity – we should approach this as a long-term mission that the private and public sectors pursue together,” said AWS CEO Matt Garman in a blog post. 

Among the elements of the new “Amazon Data Center Commitment”:

• Halting use of nondisclosure agreements, or NDAs, with government agencies on data center projects. 
• Earlier public engagement and community open houses. 
• Ensuring Amazon covers the costs of energy and infrastructure for its projects. 
• Annual public reporting of data center water use and efficiency, energy use and efficiency, and carbon-free energy. 
• More local hiring, procurement and community investment. 

Amazon is currently seeking to develop a $5 billion data center at the Port of Walla Walla’s Wallula Gap Business Park south of the Tri-Cities. The project has drawn opposition from Walla Walla County residents as well as people from the Tri-Cities concerned about everything from water and energy impacts to noise pollution and other environmental effects.