The United States is the most technologically developed country in the world. We have an insatiable desire to have all this “stuff” which is fine with me , if that’s what we want. All I want is a simple phone and my television and I’m fine, but if we as a country want all this tech , then we need AI centers to help fascilate and acomadate it all. If there wasn’t a “demand exceeds supply “ situation, a sales produce term, then we wouldn’t need as many or any at all!
It seems like more and more communities and people are very concerned about the water and electrical needs they need and that is a good thing. If the water and electricity needs can’t be resolved satisfactorily, then they shouldn’t be built in a particular area.
Numerous topics in one post. I'll comment on Data centers:
1) The popular opinion has swung against data centers more abruptly than any other issue in US history. 71% are against them locally, more than double from a mere one year ago, and which means a sizable portion of both Republicans and Democrats are against them, thus also making this possibly the most unified issue in American politics.
2) This negativity may actually reflect our concerns about AI. There is seemingly nothing that can be done about AI; billionaires are becoming multi-billionaires and a few will control how information is distributed in the world, all with full approval of the federal government, while a data center is a physical structure that has to be approved by the local planning department, which means citizens can be effective in voicing their concerns.
3) Data centers are being rejected on environmental grounds. I'll go against the grain by wondering if there is hypocrisy involved - the NYT published this zinger: "Communities have long tolerated wasteful projects that take up tons of space, consume lots of natural resources and serve the whims of wealthier people. They’re called golf courses and backyards. The 14,000 golf courses across the United States used nearly 550 billion gallons of water in 2020, and the Environmental Protection Agency estimated that Americans use over three trillion gallons of water on “landscape irrigation” each year." Boom!
4) Poor people don't use AI. The people reading this post do. The "them" is us.
5) Again, AI raises massive questions that are being intentionally ignored by the current regime. I think there should be a profit tax directly dedicated to minimum wage and unemployment benefits, for example. So sure, let's stop data centers if we can, while acknowleding our cherished lawns use more energy and water than a hundred centers, and lean into addressing the social tidal wave of AI, which does not reside in a building.
Thanks for an excellent post! I greatly appreciated your historical survey. It should remind everyone of the important battles that conservationists have previous fought to prevent destruction of some of the most beautiful places in the US. Your essay also makes it clear that the battles to save these places never ends!
The United States is the most technologically developed country in the world. We have an insatiable desire to have all this “stuff” which is fine with me , if that’s what we want. All I want is a simple phone and my television and I’m fine, but if we as a country want all this tech , then we need AI centers to help fascilate and acomadate it all. If there wasn’t a “demand exceeds supply “ situation, a sales produce term, then we wouldn’t need as many or any at all!
It seems like more and more communities and people are very concerned about the water and electrical needs they need and that is a good thing. If the water and electricity needs can’t be resolved satisfactorily, then they shouldn’t be built in a particular area.
Numerous topics in one post. I'll comment on Data centers:
1) The popular opinion has swung against data centers more abruptly than any other issue in US history. 71% are against them locally, more than double from a mere one year ago, and which means a sizable portion of both Republicans and Democrats are against them, thus also making this possibly the most unified issue in American politics.
2) This negativity may actually reflect our concerns about AI. There is seemingly nothing that can be done about AI; billionaires are becoming multi-billionaires and a few will control how information is distributed in the world, all with full approval of the federal government, while a data center is a physical structure that has to be approved by the local planning department, which means citizens can be effective in voicing their concerns.
3) Data centers are being rejected on environmental grounds. I'll go against the grain by wondering if there is hypocrisy involved - the NYT published this zinger: "Communities have long tolerated wasteful projects that take up tons of space, consume lots of natural resources and serve the whims of wealthier people. They’re called golf courses and backyards. The 14,000 golf courses across the United States used nearly 550 billion gallons of water in 2020, and the Environmental Protection Agency estimated that Americans use over three trillion gallons of water on “landscape irrigation” each year." Boom!
4) Poor people don't use AI. The people reading this post do. The "them" is us.
5) Again, AI raises massive questions that are being intentionally ignored by the current regime. I think there should be a profit tax directly dedicated to minimum wage and unemployment benefits, for example. So sure, let's stop data centers if we can, while acknowleding our cherished lawns use more energy and water than a hundred centers, and lean into addressing the social tidal wave of AI, which does not reside in a building.
All very good points!
Thanks for an excellent post! I greatly appreciated your historical survey. It should remind everyone of the important battles that conservationists have previous fought to prevent destruction of some of the most beautiful places in the US. Your essay also makes it clear that the battles to save these places never ends!