Letters: Tricky numbers make AI centers seem thirsty

"The Oct. 10 op-ed warning about water use by AI centers states that by 2028 those centers across the entire United States will use as much as 124 billion liters of water per year, but it does not put that amount into any context. Well, that is about 100,000 acre-feet per year. The State Water Project export pumps in the Delta can pump that amount in a week. And Delta farmers alone use 1.8 million acre-feet per year."

"The heading for the letter (Prop. 50 is about fair representation) is inaccurate because the letter specifically states that we must temporarily change our fair districting system, correctly implying that Proposition 50 is not fair. The letter essentially argues that we should teach our children that two wrongs make a right, and that the end justifies the means illustrating one of the many flaws with today's leftists."

Projected U.S. AI data center water use of 124 billion liters per year equals about 100,000 acre-feet; State Water Project export pumps can move that volume in a week, while Delta farmers use about 1.8 million acre-feet annually. Expressing volumes in liters or gallons can make relatively small amounts seem large. Proposition 50 would temporarily change the fair districting system, increase underrepresentation of independents and Republicans, and enable election cheating, with critics asserting it could rig the 2026 congressional election and worsen democratic representation.

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