"In the race to dominate the AI industry, tech giants are planting data centers across the US. But for many Americans, silicon valley's cash crop feels more like an invasive species - one which, when it takes root, begins to overwhelm everything around it. For one thing, the facilities are incredibly noisy, their cooling systems likened to a "distant jet that never leaves.""
"Their collective energy demand is so high that they're driving up utility prices throughout the country, in some cases prompting insufferable CEOs to resort to methane gas generators, choking local communities with noxious fumes. Their water intake is so enormous that taps in nearby homes can stop running, while their excessive pollution has been linked to a growing cancer risk."
"The fire department in Jerome Township, Ohio, an exurb northwest of Columbus, has grown increasingly annoyed at two Amazon data centers over the last four years. Since the first site was approved by local officials in 2021, first responders have answered a combined 84 emergencies between the two facilities, a rate of about two calls a month, according to The Columbus Dispatch. That's on top of regular safety inspections."
Tech companies are rapidly building AI data centers across the United States, often overwhelming nearby communities. Facilities generate constant, intense noise from cooling systems and create massive electricity demand that raises regional utility prices. Some operators use methane generators during outages, producing noxious fumes. Data centers consume large volumes of water, sometimes leaving nearby homes without running taps, and their pollution has been associated with increased cancer risk. The boom contributes to financial distortions in a sluggish economy and often includes generous tax abatements. Local emergency services face frequent incidents, delayed access, and large fires causing extensive damage.
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