A complicated matter and I know nothing about this stuff. But I do know that the Rust Belt and other areas of the country used to have thriving towns and cities. Rivers, Railroads, Canals, Resources offered reasons for cities like Syracuse, Cleveland, Indianopolis and many smaller locations to thrive. Good infrastructure, high populations, etc. But then it all fell apart and the reasons for this locations to exist pretty much evaporated. The US has many “empty” towns and cities. Sad places.
It may not be practical (location always matters) but it sure would be nice to throw $1.6B into one of those empty places and revive past glory. Seems a shame to ruin an idyllic little town. You just know it’s going to be an empty eyesore in 50 or 100 years.
I live in one of those little towns, and life here is just fine. While the rest of the world is burning, I'm debating whether I should lock the door while I run to the store. I bought what the county assessor classified as a "mansion" for half what my Central FL condo sold for.
You stated: “But I do know that the Rust Belt and other areas of the country used to have thriving towns and cities.”
And: “...sure would be nice to throw $1.6B into one of those empty places and revive past glory.”
Fabulous statement and couldn’t agree more. Having lived in the upscale Detroit ‘burbs for decades I’ve seen have seen this once great city deteriorate into a hellhole as it led into the eventual riots in ‘67. The population is a third of what it used to be and by satelite it is rather green from all the houses torn down.
Franklin Roosevelt was speaking of the “Arsenal of Democracy” and it quickly evolved into Detroit and to this day there are still remnants from the Warren row houses by the tank plants to the bombers at Willow Run airport. (Coolest air show I’ve ever seen is the WWII bombers in front of the original Ford building)
Lots of power, lots of green space.
Stop using the term “rust belt.” It’s a perjorative made up by coastal elites. It’s insulting.
At least the empty eyesores will be compact, unlike the millions of windmills blighting our beautiful countryside that were built to power the data centers.