Posted on 05/07/2026 3:30:04 PM PDT by Libloather
Data centers are big buildings full of machines that process what we do on our phones and computers.
Artificial intelligence requires even more computing power, so companies are eager to build more data centers.
The usual suspects are freaking out.
“We must stop it!” says Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY).
“Slow it down!” demands Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).
Data centers do use lots of power, and they need water to cool them down because their computers generate heat.
One center can use as much power and water as a small town.
“Uses resources like a madman!” says one protester.
Last year, protesters blocked or stalled at least 48 data center projects.
One opponent fired 13 bullets at an Indiana politician’s home because he supports data centers.
Now AOC and Sanders have introduced a bill that will pause new data center construction.
That’s just dumb.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
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"Uh huh."
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IT MIGHT BE “DUMB” TO THOSE OF YOU WHO LIVE ON CITY WATER SYSTEMS-—
BUT MANY OF THESE “DATA CENTERS” ARE BEING PLACED IN RURAL AREAS WHERE WE LIVE ON PRIVATE WELLS. NO MASTER MUNICIPAL SYSTEM-—AND WE LIKE OUR WELLS. THE WATER IS GOOD & NOT “TREATED”. NO CHLORINE, ETC. NOT GOOD FOR ANY OF OUR ANIMALS.
IF OUR WELLS GO “DRY”-—WE ARE THE ONES WHO ARE EXPECTED TO REPLACE/DIG THEM DEEPER. THE VALLEY I LIVE IN IS HIGHLY POPULATED BY RETIRED PEOPLE-—MANY OF US HERE FOR OVER 20 YEARS. WE LIVE ON SOCIAL SECURITY. THERE IS NOT $$$$ IN OUR INCOME TO “DIG A WELL ANOTHER 100-150 FEET DEEPER”.
ALSO-— THE DRILLERS ARE BUSY AND LAST TIME FRAME I HEARD IS THAT THEY ARE 6-8 WEEKS OUT TO GET THEM TO YOUR PROPERTY.
IMAGINE TRYING TO GO 6-8 WEEKS WITHOUT ANY WATER & THEN HAVING TO SHELL OUT $100-150 A FOOT TO DIG YOUR WELL DEEPER.
WE ARE BEING TOLD A BASKET OF LIES ABOUT THE DATA CENTERS, ALSO. LAST SUMMER: IT WAS 1 BUILDING & 30 FULL TIME AROUND THE CLOCK EMPLOYEES.
A WEEK AGO IT WAS 7 “COMPLEXES” OF MULTIPLE BUILDINGS& OVER 2,000 EMPLOYEES. WE ARE BEING BULLDOZED.MOST OF US ARE OVER 70 & NOT IN ANY POSITION TO MOVE AGAIN.
THERE ARE WAYS TO ADD POWER.
WATER IS AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT ISSUE.
I LIVE ON AN AQUIFER INN HIGH DESERT N NEVADA.
OUR WATER IS LIMITED.
EACH PARCEL WE LIVE ON IS ALLOWED 2.2 ACRE FEET OF WATER A YEAR. AN ACRE FOOT OF WATER===43,560 SQ FEET X 1 FOOT DEEP IN WATER. THAT IS 325,851 GALLONS OF WATER....A YEAR...FOR OUR RESIDENTIAL /AG PARCEL.
OUR ANNUAL RAINFALL==ABOUT 4 1/2 INCHES A YEAR.
THE NEW DATA CENTER HAS BEEN AWARDED 20 ACRE FEET-—ABOUT 9 TIMES A NORMAL PARCEL. NOTHING IS METERED.
Very interesting concept if they can figure out fast data transmission. The satellite uplink mentioned in the article would seem to be too slow, and would require too many satellites. This might come on line right after large scale cold fusion generation plants.
They don’t need a bill market forces and economics will take care of the Data Centers, they are expensive and probably not worth the money to build.
The amount of investment, around $2 Trillion , is absurd and cost draining. I predict many of these places will not be built once the Huge Recession coming hits.
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Besides the thing where they are putting them in deserts even though we have plenty of cold places with abundant water, Im not sure I understand why so many are building their own. For those behind it would be the equivalent of me sitting down to attempt to hand write all known code and expect to still come out ahead of the giants. These are all temporary.
Its pointless for most of the players to continue the charade. Starlink was only the first phase of a much larger plan. Next there are plans for space based AI centers powered by solar and another phase where he is intending to put a halo of large solar energy production satellites around the earth that are in an orbit and orientation that allows them to always point at the sun.
No amount of money is going to allow anyone to catch up on top of what hes organizations develop on top of what they already have. Next phase “two to three years”, some of the ground based ones wont even be fully built by then.
I don’t know or care what AOC is saying about them. But the horror that is coming from data centers and AI would make Hulk Hogan cry if he was still around. I would say what is coming is Apocalyptic to say the least. Why anyone would welcome that in perplexes me. But then again the bible does say that most will worship the beast. And another end times old testament scripture says “and although they claimed to be wise- They became fools”.
The footprint is enormous. I can’t blame people for rejecting them in their own back yards. Reclaimed urban land on a river, on site nuclear power, high rise architecture, and proper filtration when dewatering. Be prepared to convert the building when AI and/or its production method/means becom obsolete.
Elon Musk’s idea of putting compute resources in space looks better all the time.
https://x.com/elonmusk/status/2052136669525188634?s=20
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