Yes, offering an increase in nuclear power facilities as a solution to the problems facing these data centers seems like having to choose your poison. People don't seem to think it's a bad direction technology is going in, until they find one going in next to them. Or when the community starts rationing water and it's not going to be the lowly citizens at the front of the line for water or power when it gets scarce.

A common argument I'm hearing is that data centers will use enormous amounts of fresh water for cooling. Citizens are afraid they'll exhaust their drinking water supplies. Cities and centers are saying they won't. One city I'm aware of has said the centers will only use treated wastewater, that is typically discharged, for cooling.

That sounds reasonable but then I read about this, in Atlanta:

"A recent high-profile case in Georgia has highlighted how large data center campuses are increasingly drawing on local water supplies, sometimes without proper billing or oversight.

In Fayette County, officials discovered that a major data center campus had consumed nearly 29 million gallons of water — equivalent to 44 Olympic-size swimming pools — over an unspecified period. The water came from two unaccounted-for connections: one installed without the utility’s knowledge, and another not linked to the company’s account, so it wasn’t billed. The developer, Quality Technology Services, owed about $147,474 in retroactive charges after the issue was flagged in a 2025 letter to the county water system. The company later paid the bill once notified, and its meters are now fully integrated."

How can you trust what you're told when someone does this?

Erin Brockovich is now tracking more than 5,000 concerns about AI data centers.

The environmental activist has launched a nationwide tracker showing where AI data centers are operating, under construction, proposed, or drawing concern from nearby communities.

And the reports are pouring in.

Brockovich’s project had just over 3,000 community reports on June 2. By June 9, that number had climbed past 5,000.

The concerns are not abstract.

People are reporting worries about electricity demand, water use, noise, local infrastructure, electronic waste, flooding risks and the pressure these facilities can place on towns that were never built for them.

Data centers are the physical backbone of artificial intelligence. Every chatbot response, AI image, cloud service and video model depends on buildings packed with servers running around the clock.

But keeping those servers online takes enormous resources.

Large data centers can use up to 5 million gallons of water a day, roughly the daily water use of a town of 10,000 to 50,000 people, according to the Environmental and Energy Study Institute.

They also consume a growing share of U.S. electricity. The Department of Energy says data centers used about 4.4 percent of all U.S. electricity in 2023, and could rise to between 6.7 and 12 percent by 2028.

That is why local backlash is growing.

Some cities and counties have already moved to pause or restrict new data centers while they study the impact on water, power grids and household utility bills.

Seattle approved a one-year moratorium. Some communities in Kentucky, California and Georgia have taken similar steps.

Learn more:

Brockovich AI Data Center Reporting

Why do we need so many, so immense, so all consuming? That seems to me like there is something else going on here. Two years ago, I'm guessing, it wasn't like this. Now all of a sudden we need so many giant buildings using all our resources? Especially when our climate is so screwed up now? Put them in areas that flood and find a way to harness that. I can't imagine why we need that many.

I don't understand why so many of you seem to not grasp the connection between the services and capabilities YOU want to have and the infrastructure necessary to supply those services and capabilities.

Maybe it's a typical narrow NIMBY attitude. Not in your backyard, but they need to be somewhere, so put them elsewhere? You want the end result without the necessary supporting equipment, people, and capabilities that enable it.

For those who want to continue with the services and capabilities that have played a large part in making our modern world of today what it is, where would YOU suggest the sites be located? And, how would they be powered? Can you offer better solutions or do you just want to carp?

If they were moving next door to you, I'm sure you would carp.

It's the generative and agentic AI that is the massive power sucker, not "traditional" computing systems/algorithims that existed before G/A AI. Yes they used power, but not at the level G/A AI systems do.

I would argue AI is NOT needed particularly on the personal level. You could make a case for businesses, governments, and academia "needing" it, but does it really make systems operate "better"? How? How is "better" defined? Productivity? Profits? R&D discoveries? What? We lived before G/A AI was widely available and can live perfectly fine without it. It's the tech bros and gazillionairres shoving it down our throats, they stand to gain the most, and will while the rest of us sheeple suffer the consequences. Not just with potential job loss but with intellectual/literacy losses, negative social and mental effects, and a degradement of society as a whole.

My personal opinion? This is not going to end well. And that statement has nothing to do with data centers. I don't have my head buried in the sand -- G/A AI is here, and it's here to stay. But that doesn't mean it's a good thing....

I tried to post this video, but it doesn't seem to work

Just a little humorous observation Or not.

https://youtube.com/shorts/Av2CYq67NZs?si=kAGRoPg5b5ADazz8

porkchop, thank you so much for putting my feelings about this into such powerful words. I don't understand why everyone isn't sending up alarms about this happening.

If they were moving next door to you, I'm sure you would carp.

Data centers are usually developed on open land and bring jobs.

NIMBY is NIMBY and is narrow minded. Do you want the services and are ok only if done in someone else's town?

Tell China to stop developing their AI and see how that works. They're not pausing or stopping. In fact, they're not far behind us at all. China is pushing hard with massive state investment and a 2030 supremacy goal...and their main goal is to have civilian tech straight into military use. Slowing down only here in America doesn't make AI safer-it just risks handing the lead (and the rules) to them. We can demand safety standards at home, and I'm sure that will be coming at some point-but a one-sided pause is unrealistic at this point.

I think most of us wish this wasn't even a factor...but it just is.

This article from Kim Kommando shines a light on this subject.

The cloud isn’t in the sky. It’s a warehouse near you, and it’s on your power bill, your water and your taxes

--- from the article --

• “The cloud” is really 5,400+ warehouses packed with servers, and one sits about 10 miles from my house.
• You’re paying for their power lines, draining your town’s water and covering the tax breaks they get for it.
• A 30-football-field data center creates 30 to 50 permanent jobs. That’s it.

Since land is valuable, many developments are popping up left and right around here. Out of 67 counties, we are the one with the highest rate of development. There are lovely developments of expensive homes and a greenhouse/nursery which has been here for 70 years, and talk is of a data center which will definitely impact all these families, the long-time business, the quality of life in rural areas teeming with wildlife.

I don’t think Kommando is considered to be a source of objective, unbiased information. Nor ever has been. Her comments are known to be influenced by and blurred by sponsorships she earns money from. and are also intended to be well received by the demographics of her audience, something she’s quite well familiar with.

Some of the comments mentioned above attributed to her are either misinformed or are intended by her to make a point to her fans about which she apparently feels no need to be accurate or factual.

Which of her facts are wrong? No sources but yours seem to be reliable.

A high percentage of the data centers are rental units. They rent out secure space that is climate controlled in a building built like fort Knox and protected by Faraday cages, with a highly reliable power source and guards. Companies and governments pay good money for the square footage so they build them to meet demand.

It's not all about AI, nor is it a drain on the power grid any more than what all of these "renters" would consume anyway, if the servers were located in their own office buildings. It's consolidation, a condo for servers but the best part? They usually by electric wholesale and sell it to the renters at retail, this should make a few steam a little. You paid for the grid, you pay retail but those data centers get electricity wholesale? John Q. Public, once a sucker is always a sucker.

Yes, these aren’t small. For the one I’m following most closely, Google is proposing an initial 300,000 sq ft structure, with option to build 4 more of that same size. That’s a 6.88 acre building under one roof x 5 if all are built.

outpaientzero, are there are lot of suitable buildings available right now? I wouldn't think so. And for their specific needs, they need to build and won't that take quite awhile?

I'm not familiar with any place that is a consolidation as you suggest. Where are these places specifically? I'm not saying they don't exist. I am saying that they are not plentiful.

Remember when Covid hit and everyone stayed home? Not all those office buildings are being used even now. And businesses closing down because brick and mortar no longer works even though it was much nicer to shop in places where you could see what you were getting before buying it.

For my taste, this country is not becoming a nicer place to live.

"Which of her facts are wrong? No sources but yours seem to be reliable."

That's a fair and relevent question.

Read her article. She throws out comments about this study here, this reference here, completely without sources or references. Information from imagination and sourced by innuendo, typical of the style of baseless pieces trying to influence opinion..

Power lines and other infrastructure, like roads and pipe connection, are almost always paid by whoever is doing the development on open land.

Tax breaks? These exist in the laws of most states and lower political subdivisions. There are people in agencies whose jobs are to bring in development of any reasonable kind. Projects require approval of building agencies and are usually voted on in public by the city, county, or whatever subdivision is involved. All of it is done in public, not in secret. Those who dislike what their politicians do in making and following the law should vote for others.

Projects require approval of building agencies and are usually voted on in public by the city, county, or whatever subdivision is involved.

That is part of the problem here. Land was being sold without any input from the public. Yes, it was private land being sold, but the Council all signed NDAs and there was no discussion about zoning or impact of any kind. It was out in the country but the residents didn't want it, especially those who would have this behemoth "in their backyard". There has been a lot of pushback on these kinds of projects around here.

It's hard enough to see enormous housing developments swallow up the farm land but honestly, these buildings are far worse.

In my little city, a developer built a small enclave of what was then, very expensive housing. He got a 20 year tax abatement. We were not happy about that. And we had no say in the matter other than to get rid of those council people and that is so far after the fact as to be of any use.

" Land was being sold without any input from the public. "

There's no government control of sales of property. What's done on it, a different matter.

It always amazes me when people think they have the right to overturn or block what an individual or company does lawfully. It's a "lock the gate before more people come" attitude, though the gate was open when those griping wanted to enter.

There are rules, restrictions and processes in most of these situations being discussed generically for public comment on proposed development and regulatory requirements. Here's the thing - people can have their say, but as before, when projects are done lawfully and the governmental processes are followed, there will be people without standing (other than the right to free speech) whose demands will not be followed.

Any of you live in a neighborhood with a homeowners association. It's the same thing in miniature. I live in a neighborhood of custom houses that has an HOA. People are free to run, elections are held, and once that's done, major decisions aren't put to referendums. The elected representatives do what they think or want to do, that's it. Those who go rogue don't get reelected but their conduct when in office is whatever it is. That's how government works.

If you are speaking to me, I never said it was unlawful. I am saying it's not wanted.

Our city is not an HOA. The council is elected but still requires support of the residents on most everything. And they are there to make our city better, not to enrich themselves. You must be thinking of this country and the guy running it.

@murraysmom Zone 6a OH, all of the data center deals I'm seeing have a tax abatement clause. For the ones of which I am aware, the deal is 65% abatement for 30 years.

The HOA comment was a parallel situation. Reps are elected, they make rules and follow what's there. Just like public officials. Elected officials make decisions and act every day and few things WON'T draw the ire of someone.

jrb, with the tax abatement situation, which obviously is permitted under the relevant law, receiving 35% of something is better than getting 100% of nothing.

I doubt someone living in a concrete jungle can understand the distress caused to rural, quiet, nature filled communities by the invasion of these behemoth structures. It's easy to point to those pushing back with a claim of NIMBY, when they won't be in YOUR back yard. The loss of open land to development of every kind is bad enough, but the loss of farmland, water resources, peace and quiet and stress on the power grid is causing the immIence pushback against them and the promotion of AI. Claims of job creation by their development, while the advancement of AI is going to displace workers in so many fields, is quite ironic.

Who lives in a concrete jungle?

Where your home is was once wild, undeveloped land. Same for where you worked. The developments changed it. Are you entitled to the benefit of the past developments and others aren't entitled to do the same?

People don't live or work in open fields. Development needs to be managed but advocating prevention can be hypocritical and unrealistically selfish. Denying others the possibility to benefit from what others already have is wrong.

Our country has rarely been willing to acknowledge or account for the total social costs of development. There is certainly even less appetite for it in the current administration. Towns and counties may be able to exert some influence, but we will not be able to boycott the coming increases in AI and data centers needed to support it.

It does seem to be true that growth of AI will displace many white collar jobs and add a more limited number of blue collar jobs to build and sustain them.

Depressing for sure.

People don't live or work in open fields.

Surely you don't mean that. Lots of people live on thousands of acres and they like it that way and it's their right to stay on that land. The food you eat comes from those thousands of acres. It's a way of life that should be respected. Ruining the lives of farmers, who then lose their farms, is dispicable. Ruining the peace and quiet of living in the country is also dispicable. Especially for the reason of building mammoth buildings for the benefit of the internet in any form. Who wants to live near something like that?

Yes I do.

A search discloses that fewer than 20% of Americans live in rural areas. That means more than 80% don’t, a 4 to 1 ratio.

Our population is growing. People need places to live,work, shop, go to school and to have facilities that provide all the other things typical of normal life.

Most new construction happens on bare land.

I have no sentimental feelings about any particular group of people that live any particular place of their choosing, when the choice was one of others open to them. The sun set long ago on the economic viability of otherwise undistinguished family farms. They're in decline and that will continue. Other businesses operate in free markets with no guarantees against failure and farming should be no different.

I have no sentimental feelings about any particular group of people that live any particular place of their choosing

Clearly.

If it's MY generational farm, I care about it and that should be respected. I should not have to sell my land to some corporation or to anyone really if I do not want to and I shouldn't have my water and other resources restricted because of someone building something so large as to encroach on my property and resources.

If people don't care to live in cities but want to live in the country, what does it matter to you? It astounds me that you state these facts and even though they may be true, they do not mean everyone needs to do what the majority of people do. Can you not give these people the grace to live as they prefer? Not everyone wants to live as you do.

These data centers are not going in just in rural areas.

It doesn't matter to me where people live or what they do there, if it's lawful. I don't care. I just said I have no special emotional attachment to any particular lifestyle. Did you think I suggested something different?

People who want to persist in trying to swim up-river against a raging flow many have already given up on (the non-viability of most family farms) are free to do that. I won't pay extra taxes to support them, they're entitled to the consequences of their poor choices. Governmental support of farmers is excessive now and should be reduced.

Also, given that rural schools often have fewer qualified teachers, less funding, and lower test performance than schools in more populated areas, it's puzzling that many parents nevertheless choose to live far from better schools rather than prioritize their children's educational opportunities. Thereby limiting the future life opportunities and possibilities their children will benefit from. It's a wonder to me.

A lot of whining about selling land, data centers and jobs. I haven't seen any one cry about the Chinese or other foreign countries buying up U.S. farmland, or Bill gates, and other billionaires buying hundreds of thousands of acres. Personally I'd love to see a business with deep pockets offer me twice my land value and throw up what ever it wants. 97% of Minnesota land is classified as rural, so a few thousand acres lost to Data centers isn't going to move the needle.

Murraysmom, The consolidation you don't see are the businesses across America who already have rooms full of servers, and who must increase capacity for more servers to handle AI Large language models (LLM). To upgrade their server room's it requires millions of dollars that is hard to duplicate in house, so it's cheaper to rent space then to build the space. The rented space is much more secure with less chance of power disruptions, and a more rural location is desired to avoid all the potential disruptions they can encounter in a cesspool city. Radical groups aren't going to riot, burn and loot a data center, and if they tried they are fortified, high-security structures capable of withstanding severe physical threats, including riots, forced entry, and arson.

Companies are rapidly deploying advanced AI agents for customer service, but the resulting job losses are heavily concentrated in India and the Philippines, which already took these customer service jobs away from American shores long ago. The flip side is these companies are quietly rehiring humans, not to replace the millions of offshore workers but are hiring highly technical people in America to oversee, monitor, and optimize the AI agents. These jobs are high value jobs, and are the jobs coming back to America. Can you now see what consolidation is and where the jobs are being created?

So these high-security structures are easy to come by? I wonder when all that happened. I don't think this is going to end well.

What jobs are high value? Isn't it going to run by AI robots? The construction jobs are only short lived, then the robots move in. No more jobs.

I wish they were bringing back people's jobs, not robots. That would be a lot more useful for our country.

And unless these huge buildings are disguised as barns, don't they make easy targets?

I believe you're trying to be funny, because I laughed. Maybe I made it to complicated to understand. I'll simplify it for an average 5th grader.

What many people don't realize is that thousands of businesses already have rooms full of computer servers. As AI grows, they need many more servers than they can fit in their own buildings. Building secure server space is very expensive, so it's often cheaper to rent space in a large data center.

These data centers are usually built in rural areas because land is cheaper, power is more reliable, and there is more room to expand. They are also built with strong security and backup power because companies can't afford to have them shut down.

As for jobs, AI is replacing many customer service jobs that were already moved overseas years ago, especially to India and the Philippines. But companies are also hiring people in the United States to install, maintain, secure, monitor, and improve these AI systems and data centers. Those are skilled, higher-paying jobs.

AI doesn't mean buildings full of robots with nobody working there. It means different kinds of jobs than before.

If that doesn't stimulate a few brain cells maybe this will just to keep the humor going.

Imagine every cartoon character had their own little toy box. One day, they get so many toys that the toy box is too small. Instead of every character building a giant toy box, they all put their toys in one really big toy room. That's what a data center is.

The toys didn't disappear. The characters didn't disappear. The toys just moved to a bigger room. Someone still has to build the room, keep it clean, fix the lights, lock the doors, and make sure nobody steals the toys, and each character has to hire another character to keep the toys clean and working. That's where the jobs are.

Or;

Think about Santa's workshop. If Santa gets twice as many toys to make, he doesn't build a new workshop for every elf. He builds one bigger workshop.

He still needs elves to build it, fix it, clean it, guard it, and keep it running. A data center is the same idea. It's just one big place where lots of toys are stored so Jack frost can't wreck the toys. A computer is like the toys, and stored in one safe space and not at every cartoon character or elf's work bench. It would be messy like your room.

People don't need air conditioning either, but millions choose to have it because it makes life easier. AI is no different. It's a tool, not a source of truth.

Books and classes are still the best way to learn a subject. AI doesn't replace them, it helps you use what you've already learned more efficiently. Instead of reading ten books to find one small piece of information, AI can point you in the right direction. It's then up to you to verify the information with reliable sources.

As a retired cross-disciplinary innovator, I value my time. I use AI to explore ideas, identify possible solutions, and uncover obstacles I may not have considered. It doesn't do the thinking for me,it gives me a better place to start thinking.

Saying "people don't need AI" is an opinion, just as saying people don't need air conditioning is an opinion. Neither is necessary to live, but both are useful tools that many people choose because they make life easier, and AI makes things faster. I hope we all can do long division by hand, but a calculator gets it done faster. A power drill makes driving a screw faster, but you need to know how to drive a screw. AI is the same, it doesn't replace learning, it helps you work more efficiently using what you've already learned.

History is full of examples where new technologies were initially met with fear, skepticism, or outright opposition.

• Printing press - People feared it would spread misinformation and reduce memory.
• Steam engines - Thought to be dangerous, noisy, and harmful to health.
• Railroads - Some believed speeds over 30 mph would injure or kill passengers.
• Electricity - Considered dangerous and unnecessary compared to gas lighting.
• Telephone - Why talk to someone far away when you can write a letter.
• Automobiles - Horses were viewed as safer and more reliable.
• Airplanes - Considered impractical and too dangerous for regular travel.
• Tractors - Feared they would replace farm labor and ruin rural life.
• Chemical fertilizers - Many believed they would destroy soil (a debate that still exists in some circles).
• Refrigerators - Some preferred iceboxes and distrusted electric appliances.
• Television - Accused of destroying conversation and family life.
• Personal computers - Viewed by many as a fad or only useful for hobbyists .
• Internet - Criticized as unnecessary, unsafe, and full of misinformation.
• Search engines - Some argued people would stop learning and remembering facts. GPS - Critics worried people would lose their sense of direction.
• Calculators - Schools feared students would never learn arithmetic.
• Digital cameras - Film enthusiasts insisted digital would never match film quality.
• Online banking Many believed it would never be secure enough.
• Smartphones - Criticized for making people dependent on technology.
• Cloud computing - Companies worried about storing data on someone else's computer.

I used AI to generate this list after giving some examples. It saved me so much time not needing to go through countless publications to find them. I have not fact checked these claims, but i do hold the opinion some of the criticism on a few technologies was true. Time will tell about AI.

How about that new technology called plastic. Isn't it awesome!

outpaientzero, gosh, you are as verbose as our other condescending contributor.

I wasn't stating any facts at all. I was merely offering my opinion. Take it or leave it. It doesn't matter a wit to me.

rob, I hope we learn the dangers of AI a lot sooner than it took to experience it with plastics!!

I could have lived without AC several years ago, but with this ongoing heatwave hitting us this week I'd probably be dead by Saturday without AC. I heard on the news where 1400 people died in France last week from the heat, most likely many in my age group. Let's all hope the data centers don't hog the local grids to their failing point.

Here in the Research Triangle Park region, aka the Silicon Valley on the East coast, we already have at least 5 AI data locations. These were carefully planned and built according to zoning. There are appetites for more data centers driven by growing businesses and the three top tier research universities and teaching hospitals. So state lawmakers and the power company are reviewing new utility regulations, and developing rate structures to accommodate the huge power consumption of AI data centers while protecting residential consumers, and to address local concerns regarding power demands, water usage, and noise. Water usage from these data centers is a concern to me because our population is growing fast, and the on going drought is not helping.

Planful. Purposeful. Nothing wrong with that. It’s the ones that lack apparent planning, foresight, and negotiated anonymously, under an NDA, that a lot of folks are in disagreement with.

Verbose?? That was all copied from AI.

Third parties have no right to know or access details of contracts between private parties. NDAs for these types and most other contracts in the private sector are always kept confidential.

Our NDAs were signed by public officials, not a private company. I would hope that, in that case, that is not permitted. It's being addressed right now. I am not up to date on where this stands at the moment.

" 1400 people died in France last week from the heat, most likely many in my age group. Let's all hope the data centers don't hog the local grids "

France has very robust and diverse sources of electricity. Something like 70% is from nuclear plants (I looked this up, it used to be higher) and double digits also from other non-combustion sources. Very little is from fossil fuels.

Irrelevant response since France’s robust and diverse sources of electricity has nothing to do with the deaths, but rather the stance of long-standing aversion to air-conditioning as part of the country's response to global warming. They will have to reconsider it since the continent is heating up too fast that passive cooling building methods can’t keep up with climate change.

" under an NDA, that a lot of folks are in disagreement with "

Third parties have no right to know or access details of contracts between private parties. NDAs for these types and most other contracts in the private sector are always kept confidential.

More irrelevant response. The point of the concern is if an NDA limits transparency about decisions involving public resources, tax incentives, or major infrastructure projects, it can undermine public trust. For many people, the issue is more about major infrastructure projects such as data centers being planned transparently, with public accountability and community engagement.

Your comments about RTP shows one man’s limited knowledge and opinion, as opposed to well known recognition to the region’s technological prowess. If you have not heard or read on the news, you could learn a little from a simple googling, like “is RTP considered silicon valley on the East coast of US?”

rob, once I started hearing about what plastic is doing to our environment and ourselves, I got rid of every Tupperware container I owned. I also haven't had a microwave oven for years because I don't think that is healthy either. My storage containers are all glass. It's impossible for me to get rid of every single thing made of plastic but I am concious of it when making decisions. I don't drink water out of plastic bottles anymore. Convenience can come with a serious cost.

Lots of studies on how much plastic is in our drinking water and that is a concern. I'm late coming to my senses but I do the best I can now.

Studies have detected microplastics and nanoplastics in human brain tissue, with concentrations higher than in other organs such as the liver and kidneys Smithsonian Magazine+2. The total amount in an adult brain is estimated to be roughly seven grams, equivalent to the weight of a plastic spoon Smithsonian Magazine+1. Research indicates that these levels have increased by about 50% between 2016 and 2024, suggesting a growing accumulation over time Smithsonian Magazine+2. Brains of individuals diagnosed with dementia were found to contain up to 10 times more plastic than those without dementia, although a causal relationship has not been established unm.edu+1.

Adds a whole new meaning to the phrase "Stick a fork in me, I'm done"

" I would hope that, in that case, that is not permitted. "

If it was done, it's a good bet it was permissible. Governments don't enter into contracts without advice of counsel.

" rather the stance of long-standing aversion to air-conditioning as part of the country's response to global warming. "

You're quite misinformed, this is not factual.

" The point of the concern is if an NDA limits transparency about decisions involving public resources, tax incentives, or major infrastructure projects, it can undermine public trust. "

Next time vote for someone else. Every decision by elected officials and the agencies they run has political consequences. You won't always agree with decisions they make. Run for office if you're really agitated.

" Your comments about RTP shows one man’s limited knowledge and opinion, "

True, but mine is a very informed one. Having spent my career almost exclusively in the tech sector, and also in working with VC funds, I can tell you that at least over my nearly 4 decade career, the major locations for activity and investment were where I mentioned. North Carolina is a minnow in an ocean of very large fish and marine mammals.

Thanks again, I always appreciate your comments.

Last night I read this on the news: Energy Dept. directs data centers to use backup generators during heat wave, freeing up power for AC

https://www.cnn.com/2026/07/02/weather/heat-data-centers-electricity-generators

Vgkg, you’ll be alright 👍