#aisucks — Public Fediverse posts

#Mississippi homeowners blame a noisy #DataCenter plant for sleepless nights. The mayor's advice? "Consider selling."

By Lauren Fichten, July 16, 2026

"It was 4 a.m. on a Sunday and 46-year-old Jason Haley was once again wide awake.

"The suburban silence that Haley had grown used to in his two decades as a resident of #SouthavenMS, had, for the last few months, been replaced by a constant whirring, like an airplane hovering over his home, he said.

"The noise keeping Haley awake was coming from a plant powering #ElonMusk's #xAI #datacenters in the area, according to a lawsuit filed in June against the company and its subsidiary, #MZXTech. Haley and two other #Southaven residents, who live within a mile of the plant, allege in the suit that 'near-constant' noise and vibrations are causing negative physical and psychological health effects.

"The filing comes amid growing #resistance toward data center development, with the majority of Americans opposing local construction of a data center, according to a Gallup poll published earlier this year.

"Similar disputes are playing out across the country, like in #MountPleasantWI, where a lawsuit this month filed by residents alleges a data center emits 'unreasonable and excessive noise' onto residents' properties and in #LowellMA [a city with a large #Latino population -- #EnvironmentalRacism], where noise from a data center's cooling center 'disrupts neighbors' sleep,' according to an April suit.

"There are more than 4,000 data centers in the U.S., according to a recent United Nations report. To power the data centers, developers are building their own plants, sometimes with little warning to residents like Haley.

"Haley reached out to Southaven Mayor Darren Musselwhite about the noise in emails he shared with CBS News. In one last November, he urged Musselwhite to drive through the neighborhood 'and take a listen to the constant #HighPitch noises.' "

" 'I am aware of the noise and working on a solution with xAI officials,' Musselwhite had responded to Haley an hour later. 'It is a problem,' he said in another email later in the day.

"But soon, another sleepless night rolled around and Haley was emailing the mayor again.

""Anyone else I can reach out to?" Haley wrote to Musselwhite. "It's almost 4 am and I can hear it from my bed. The high pitch and roaring combined is full force at this time. My ears are ringing. I can't live in this. How was this ever approved?"

[In a later email, this was Musselwhite's response] "I know they want houses for employees, so you may want to consider selling your home." 😡

Read more:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mississippi-elon-musk-xai-data-center-power-plant-noise/

#ElonSucks #BigDataSucks #NoisePollution #BigData
#CorporateColonialism #WaterIsLife #LandIsLife #AirIsLife #USPol
#AISucks #DatacenterMoratorium
#AIDatacenters #EnvironmentalRacism
#PreyingOnThePoor #EnergyVampires #ResistAI

#Mississippi homeowners blame a noisy #DataCenter plant for sleepless nights. The mayor's advice? "Consider selling."

By Lauren Fichten, July 16, 2026

"It was 4 a.m. on a Sunday and 46-year-old Jason Haley was once again wide awake.

"The suburban silence that Haley had grown used to in his two decades as a resident of #SouthavenMS, had, for the last few months, been replaced by a constant whirring, like an airplane hovering over his home, he said.

"The noise keeping Haley awake was coming from a plant powering #ElonMusk's #xAI #datacenters in the area, according to a lawsuit filed in June against the company and its subsidiary, #MZXTech. Haley and two other #Southaven residents, who live within a mile of the plant, allege in the suit that 'near-constant' noise and vibrations are causing negative physical and psychological health effects.

"The filing comes amid growing #resistance toward data center development, with the majority of Americans opposing local construction of a data center, according to a Gallup poll published earlier this year.

"Similar disputes are playing out across the country, like in #MountPleasantWI, where a lawsuit this month filed by residents alleges a data center emits 'unreasonable and excessive noise' onto residents' properties and in #LowellMA [a city with a large #Latino population -- #EnvironmentalRacism], where noise from a data center's cooling center 'disrupts neighbors' sleep,' according to an April suit.

"There are more than 4,000 data centers in the U.S., according to a recent United Nations report. To power the data centers, developers are building their own plants, sometimes with little warning to residents like Haley.

"Haley reached out to Southaven Mayor Darren Musselwhite about the noise in emails he shared with CBS News. In one last November, he urged Musselwhite to drive through the neighborhood 'and take a listen to the constant #HighPitch noises.' "

" 'I am aware of the noise and working on a solution with xAI officials,' Musselwhite had responded to Haley an hour later. 'It is a problem,' he said in another email later in the day.

"But soon, another sleepless night rolled around and Haley was emailing the mayor again.

""Anyone else I can reach out to?" Haley wrote to Musselwhite. "It's almost 4 am and I can hear it from my bed. The high pitch and roaring combined is full force at this time. My ears are ringing. I can't live in this. How was this ever approved?"

[In a later email, this was Musselwhite's response] "I know they want houses for employees, so you may want to consider selling your home." 😡

Read more:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mississippi-elon-musk-xai-data-center-power-plant-noise/

#ElonSucks #BigDataSucks #NoisePollution #BigData
#CorporateColonialism #WaterIsLife #LandIsLife #AirIsLife #USPol
#AISucks #DatacenterMoratorium
#AIDatacenters #EnvironmentalRacism
#PreyingOnThePoor #EnergyVampires #ResistAI

Employers pushed staff to use #AI more. That has backfired

Incentives to use new tools are changing as costs start to hit home

Andrew Hill and Emma Jacobs, Jul 13 2026

Excerpt: "Some Amazon developers must be suffering whiplash about how they use AI. The technology group sets targets for most of its developers to use AI tools. This year it started monitoring consumption and posting usage figures on internal leader boards.

"But after the FT wrote in May that some workers were automating non-essential tasks to improve their ranking, Amazon took the leader boards offline. 'Please don’t use AI just for the sake of using AI,' Amazon senior vice-president Dave Treadwell told staff.

"The shift was a sign of how employers are already changing how AI should be used and incentivised. As model providers switch from subscriptions to token-based billing, the cost of profligate usage is starting to hit home. "

Original article [paywall]:
https://www.ft.com/content/cc03adda-7b56-4392-8f9a-e83a71a25ea1

Archived version:
https://archive.ph/SYsHi

#AISucks #ResistAI #AIDatacenters #AIBubble

Employers pushed staff to use #AI more. That has backfired

Incentives to use new tools are changing as costs start to hit home

Andrew Hill and Emma Jacobs, Jul 13 2026

Excerpt: "Some Amazon developers must be suffering whiplash about how they use AI. The technology group sets targets for most of its developers to use AI tools. This year it started monitoring consumption and posting usage figures on internal leader boards.

"But after the FT wrote in May that some workers were automating non-essential tasks to improve their ranking, Amazon took the leader boards offline. 'Please don’t use AI just for the sake of using AI,' Amazon senior vice-president Dave Treadwell told staff.

"The shift was a sign of how employers are already changing how AI should be used and incentivised. As model providers switch from subscriptions to token-based billing, the cost of profligate usage is starting to hit home. "

Original article [paywall]:
https://www.ft.com/content/cc03adda-7b56-4392-8f9a-e83a71a25ea1

Archived version:
https://archive.ph/SYsHi

#AISucks #ResistAI #AIDatacenters #AIBubble

#AINotetakers add another layer to virtual meeting etiquette

By Cathy Bussewitz, July 9, 2026

" 'People who use #AI notetakers, they don’t always know where the data goes,' said Justin Daniels, an Atlanta-based corporate attorney at law firm Baker Donelson. 'And in my context, if the data goes anywhere else and they’re not aware of it, that attorney-client-privileged conversation may not be attorney-client-privileged anymore.' "

https://apnews.com/article/ai-notetaker-work-meetings-privacy-data-c700299371ca7cfec77dafdfb948067f

#AISucks #ResistAI #DataPrivacy

#AINotetakers add another layer to virtual meeting etiquette

By Cathy Bussewitz, July 9, 2026

" 'People who use #AI notetakers, they don’t always know where the data goes,' said Justin Daniels, an Atlanta-based corporate attorney at law firm Baker Donelson. 'And in my context, if the data goes anywhere else and they’re not aware of it, that attorney-client-privileged conversation may not be attorney-client-privileged anymore.' "

https://apnews.com/article/ai-notetaker-work-meetings-privacy-data-c700299371ca7cfec77dafdfb948067f

#AISucks #ResistAI #DataPrivacy

35 Years Later, An Iconic Sci-Fi Masterpiece Is Coming Back To Theaters

James Cameron's cautionary tale is returning just when the world needs it most.

https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/terminator-2-judgment-day-theatrical-re-release

#Terminator2 #T2JudgmentDay #AISucks #ResistAI

35 Years Later, An Iconic Sci-Fi Masterpiece Is Coming Back To Theaters

James Cameron's cautionary tale is returning just when the world needs it most.

https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/terminator-2-judgment-day-theatrical-re-release

#Terminator2 #T2JudgmentDay #AISucks #ResistAI

These #Maine #librarians are helping patrons resist #AI and #BigTech

by Bridget Huber, July 2, 2026

"In recent months, the #SearsmontME Town Library has added a new service for patrons: Help in removing AI from their phones and other devices.

" 'A lot of times, it’s just telling people that they have choices,' Library Director #StevenBrown said. 'Their phone came a certain way, but they don’t have to use it the way that it came.'

"Brown helps patrons disable AI-powered assistants like Siri or so-called smart features in email and switch from using Google, which doesn’t offer an option to search without AI overviews, to a browser that does.

"A big part of his job as a librarian has been helping people with information technology, he said. He sees helping people think critically about technology and AI as a natural extension of this work.

"While Brown’s long been skeptical of the purported benefits of technology for society, he didn’t start offering the #AIRemoval services until this spring, when he attended a webinar presented by #HannahCyrus, a #BangorME librarian who has become a leading voice in a nationwide movement of librarians who are working to help patrons understand the risks of AI and other technologies.

" 'I seem to have become the face of #AIHaters — which I’m fine with — in the library world,' Cyrus said.

"Cyrus, a reference librarian at the Bangor Public Library, teaches classes on how to use technology. But that doesn’t mean uncritically embracing and promoting it, she said.

" 'I really try to make sure people not only know where to tap or click to get done what they want to do, but to understand the values and issues at play as they’re using different pieces of technology,' she said.

"Commonly used tools like Gmail and Chat GPT are not neutral, she said. 'These are products created by giant #corporations who want your information and want your attention,' she said. “And that has real impacts on our lives.”

"The most popular class Cyrus has taught is called #AvoidingAI, which explains what #GenerativeAI is, some of the concerns around it, and how to disable it and find alternatives. The first time she taught the class in fall of 2025 more than 70 people enrolled. She taught it again this spring, and Brown was one of 20 Maine librarians to enroll. "

Read more:
https://www.bangordailynews.com/2026/07/02/midcoast/midcoast-culture/maine-librarians-are-helping-patrons-resist-ai-joam40zk0w/

Archived version:
https://archive.ph/HRBPH

#AIResistance #BigData #AISucks #MaineLibraries #LibrariesRule! #MaineResists #ResistAI

These #Maine #librarians are helping patrons resist #AI and #BigTech

by Bridget Huber, July 2, 2026

"In recent months, the #SearsmontME Town Library has added a new service for patrons: Help in removing AI from their phones and other devices.

" 'A lot of times, it’s just telling people that they have choices,' Library Director #StevenBrown said. 'Their phone came a certain way, but they don’t have to use it the way that it came.'

"Brown helps patrons disable AI-powered assistants like Siri or so-called smart features in email and switch from using Google, which doesn’t offer an option to search without AI overviews, to a browser that does.

"A big part of his job as a librarian has been helping people with information technology, he said. He sees helping people think critically about technology and AI as a natural extension of this work.

"While Brown’s long been skeptical of the purported benefits of technology for society, he didn’t start offering the #AIRemoval services until this spring, when he attended a webinar presented by #HannahCyrus, a #BangorME librarian who has become a leading voice in a nationwide movement of librarians who are working to help patrons understand the risks of AI and other technologies.

" 'I seem to have become the face of #AIHaters — which I’m fine with — in the library world,' Cyrus said.

"Cyrus, a reference librarian at the Bangor Public Library, teaches classes on how to use technology. But that doesn’t mean uncritically embracing and promoting it, she said.

" 'I really try to make sure people not only know where to tap or click to get done what they want to do, but to understand the values and issues at play as they’re using different pieces of technology,' she said.

"Commonly used tools like Gmail and Chat GPT are not neutral, she said. 'These are products created by giant #corporations who want your information and want your attention,' she said. “And that has real impacts on our lives.”

"The most popular class Cyrus has taught is called #AvoidingAI, which explains what #GenerativeAI is, some of the concerns around it, and how to disable it and find alternatives. The first time she taught the class in fall of 2025 more than 70 people enrolled. She taught it again this spring, and Brown was one of 20 Maine librarians to enroll. "

Read more:
https://www.bangordailynews.com/2026/07/02/midcoast/midcoast-culture/maine-librarians-are-helping-patrons-resist-ai-joam40zk0w/

Archived version:
https://archive.ph/HRBPH

#AIResistance #BigData #AISucks #MaineLibraries #LibrariesRule! #MaineResists #ResistAI

More #DataCenters, more #environmental problems?

As #AI’s reach grows, the need for data centers multiplies. So, too, could the #EcologicalImpacts without hands-on mitigation.

By Ambika Kandasamy, Sep 24, 2025

Excerpt: "A December 2024 preprint of a study from researchers at the University of California, Riverside, and California Institute of Technology outlined the toll of AI-related #AirPollution. 'AI contributes substantially to air quality degradation and public health costs through the emission of various criteria #AirPollutants,' the authors wrote.

"Other forms of #pollution, such as light and noise, also could be problematic. Neil Carter, an associate professor at the University of Michigan’s School for Environment and Sustainability, has studied the links between #SensoryPollution and conservation. While he hasn’t researched #AIDatacenters’ impact on #wildlife specifically, he says AI data centers potentially could be '#SensoryDangerZones.'

" 'Sensory danger zones are basically where we have reason to believe that the amount of light and the amount of noise is exceeding thresholds by which you can imagine there being a fitness consequence for species,' Carter says. 'And they may not be able to carry out the necessary functions that they normally would.' Research by Carter and his colleagues has explored how #LightPollution, for example, could disrupt the dynamics between predator and prey species, such as #cougars and #MuleDeer. Their research also has looked into how #AnthropogenicSounds could affect reproduction in #birds including the #NorthernCardinal, #OakTitmouse and #BarnSwallow.

"To address some of these issues, experts recommend adopting sustainable strategies when building and operating AI data centers and when using AI. The decisions 'we make today will be having an impact on the public health for many years to come, due to the long life span for data center projects,' says Shaolei Ren, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of California, Riverside, and an author of the #AirPollution study."

Read more:
https://www.nwf.org/Home/Magazines/National-Wildlife/2025/Fall/Conservation/AI-Data-Centers

#Datacenters #EnvironmentalImpact #NoisePollution #EndangeredSpecies
#DataCenterMoratorium #AISucks
#NoDatacenters
#HyperscaleDatacenters #ResistDatacenters #Resistance
#FightBack #DatacentersSuck
#AIResistance #AISucks
#AIDataCenters

More #DataCenters, more #environmental problems?

As #AI’s reach grows, the need for data centers multiplies. So, too, could the #EcologicalImpacts without hands-on mitigation.

By Ambika Kandasamy, Sep 24, 2025

Excerpt: "A December 2024 preprint of a study from researchers at the University of California, Riverside, and California Institute of Technology outlined the toll of AI-related #AirPollution. 'AI contributes substantially to air quality degradation and public health costs through the emission of various criteria #AirPollutants,' the authors wrote.

"Other forms of #pollution, such as light and noise, also could be problematic. Neil Carter, an associate professor at the University of Michigan’s School for Environment and Sustainability, has studied the links between #SensoryPollution and conservation. While he hasn’t researched #AIDatacenters’ impact on #wildlife specifically, he says AI data centers potentially could be '#SensoryDangerZones.'

" 'Sensory danger zones are basically where we have reason to believe that the amount of light and the amount of noise is exceeding thresholds by which you can imagine there being a fitness consequence for species,' Carter says. 'And they may not be able to carry out the necessary functions that they normally would.' Research by Carter and his colleagues has explored how #LightPollution, for example, could disrupt the dynamics between predator and prey species, such as #cougars and #MuleDeer. Their research also has looked into how #AnthropogenicSounds could affect reproduction in #birds including the #NorthernCardinal, #OakTitmouse and #BarnSwallow.

"To address some of these issues, experts recommend adopting sustainable strategies when building and operating AI data centers and when using AI. The decisions 'we make today will be having an impact on the public health for many years to come, due to the long life span for data center projects,' says Shaolei Ren, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of California, Riverside, and an author of the #AirPollution study."

Read more:
https://www.nwf.org/Home/Magazines/National-Wildlife/2025/Fall/Conservation/AI-Data-Centers

#Datacenters #EnvironmentalImpact #NoisePollution #EndangeredSpecies
#DataCenterMoratorium #AISucks
#NoDatacenters
#HyperscaleDatacenters #ResistDatacenters #Resistance
#FightBack #DatacentersSuck
#AIResistance #AISucks
#AIDataCenters

The Dangers of #Datacenters

by Elan Justice Pavlinich, PhD
Feb 27, 2026

"Data Centers are large facilities containing computer servers used for data storage, data analytics, generative AI, and streaming services. Data centers represent health risks for their neighbors. These risks are especially high from hyperscale data centers powered by fossil fuels, such as those proposed for some parts of Pennsylvania. Listed below are some of the top problems data centers impose on nearby communities.


#NoisePollution

Data centers cause noise pollution. First, the heavy equipment used to construct the facilities are loud. Then, once they are up and running, diesel generators plus heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems create a constant hum that can be audible to neighboring residents and wildlife. Data centers generate noise levels that may exceed 90 decibels. Noise levels above 85 decibels are harmful to hearing.


#LightPollution

Data centers generate light pollution. Hyperscale facilities require all-night lighting that disrupts the natural (circadian) rhythms of the body, including melatonin production (the hormone that regulates sleep) and sleep-wake cycles. Light pollution is also disturbing migration patterns and habitat development among birds, butterflies, bats, cats, and turtles—to name only a handful.

The long-term impacts of both noise and light pollution include hearing loss, stress, insomnia, and decreased quality of life.


#AirPollution

Data centers, especially gas-powered data centers, emit significant pollutants, such as nitrogen oxides, methane, volatile organic compounds, and fine particulate matter. According to a September 2025 study, these pollutants increase rates of respiratory diseases and cardiovascular conditions, and they elevate cancer risks among nearby communities. A 2025 model indicates that U.S. data centers in 2030 could cause approximately 600,000 asthma symptom cases and 1,300 premature deaths, exceeding 1/3 of asthma deaths in the U.S. each year, resulting in a public health burden of more than $20 billion.


#WaterWaste

Data centers require water to cool computer servers so they do not become too hot to function. A large data center will use up to 5 million gallons of water daily. Drawing from local water supplies, these facilities are slurping up resources that should be available to residents in water-scarce regions. In fact, data centers increase the threat of water insecurity, and thus dehydration and poor hygiene.

Nevertheless, a 2025 report by SourceMaterial and The Guardian found that Google has seven active data centers in water-scarce areas of the U.S. and was planning to build six more. Prior to this, in 2023, the state of Arizona revoked construction permits for new homes due to a scarcity of groundwater in Maricopa County, where Meta has one data center, Microsoft has two data centers, and Google has one data center with a second in development.


Cost Increase for Home Energy Consumers

Data centers have typically not paid their fair share in utilities, particularly for electricity consumption, and in those situations other consumers (including residential customers) have had to pay more than they otherwise would.

Utility companies identify data centers as large load customers, meaning that they require a lot more energy from the power grid. When a utility grid operator must add new infrastructure to accommodate growing populations or large load customers, rates may increase for all users in that region, despite attempts to regulate those increases or to allocate costs to the large load customer. In fact, utility grid operators will sometimes negotiate lower rates to incentivize large load customers to build in their territory, meaning that additional expenses must be covered by the other customer segments.

Last year, analysts estimated a 20% rate increase for Pennsylvania households. The U.S. Energy Information Administration shows the average resident has been paying 37% more for electricity since 2020. U.S. energy demand is expected to grow 2.5% annually over the next decade. Therefore, it is likely that residents will see an increase in energy rates. These trends indicate data centers make cost of living more expensive.

In response to escalating concerns over energy costs, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro recently announced new standards that require data center developers to construct their own energy sources or pay for the upgrades to the grid, sparing local consumers the costs. It remains to be seen how, when, and for which facilities those standards will be enforced, but even if the average home is spared the additional financial costs of a data center boom, there is still the price of numerous environmental hazards listed above, especially if new data centers rely on fracked gas for power.

This data center boom and the subsequent demand for more energy presents an opportunity to protect public health and to invest in renewable energy as a driver of the economy, but we need to make that choice now. If data centers are encroaching on our region, they must be powered by cleaner, renewable sources of energy to avoid imposing additional health hazards associated with oil and gas development onto nearby communities.


Who Is Affected?

As with other forms of air pollution, those at increased risk include children, developing fetuses, pregnant people, elderly, and individuals with chronic respiratory or cardiovascular disease.

Data Centers also pose environmental justice concerns because they disproportionately affect minority and #LowIncome communities [like #SanfordME]. First, trends point to energy sources that fuel data centers being built near #BlackCommunities, which suffer the consequences of exposure to pollution, identified above. Plus, research indicates that the automation capabilities of AI are predicted to replace more jobs performed by Black people, and thus widening systemic inequities that overwhelmingly keep Black households at an economic disadvantage.

This trend is not a new one. In fact, for people throughout our region, it is a familiar story. Data centers powered by fracked gas, like other oil and gas industries, threaten some of our most vulnerable community members, but they also put every nearby person at greater risk for health consequences—not to mention the added financial burden of health care costs.


What Can We Do?

The companies behind the data center boom are moving quickly into communities across the region, many with promises of prosperity. But some communities are pushing back and saying that data centers are not worth the health and environmental impacts. If you agree with that sentiment, there are steps you can take to combat data centers in your backyard.

- First, check if your municipality has a data center ordinance. If not, urge officials to adopt one.

- Then, identify opportunities for community participation before the proposed data center is approved. Will a public hearing be required? If so, take this opportunity to express your concerns and to share this resource with other community members.

- Next, reference nuisance control ordinances (rules for limiting noise, light, and vibrations), plus zoning laws that would restrict new data centers in your region.

- If the data center must be built, advocate for limiting the use of fossil fuels in both everyday operations and generator backups. Encourage decision makers and developers to utilize renewable energy sources, such as wind turbines and solar panels.

- Finally, urge decision makers to require any facility to report their emissions and share an emergency preparedness plan with the community."

To learn more:
https://www.environmentalhealthproject.org/post/the-dangers-of-data-centers

#ResistDatacenters #Resistance #FightBack #DatacentersSuck #EnvironmentalRacism #AIResistance #AISucks #AIDataCenters #DatacenterMoratorium

The Dangers of #Datacenters

by Elan Justice Pavlinich, PhD
Feb 27, 2026

"Data Centers are large facilities containing computer servers used for data storage, data analytics, generative AI, and streaming services. Data centers represent health risks for their neighbors. These risks are especially high from hyperscale data centers powered by fossil fuels, such as those proposed for some parts of Pennsylvania. Listed below are some of the top problems data centers impose on nearby communities.


#NoisePollution

Data centers cause noise pollution. First, the heavy equipment used to construct the facilities are loud. Then, once they are up and running, diesel generators plus heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems create a constant hum that can be audible to neighboring residents and wildlife. Data centers generate noise levels that may exceed 90 decibels. Noise levels above 85 decibels are harmful to hearing.


#LightPollution

Data centers generate light pollution. Hyperscale facilities require all-night lighting that disrupts the natural (circadian) rhythms of the body, including melatonin production (the hormone that regulates sleep) and sleep-wake cycles. Light pollution is also disturbing migration patterns and habitat development among birds, butterflies, bats, cats, and turtles—to name only a handful.

The long-term impacts of both noise and light pollution include hearing loss, stress, insomnia, and decreased quality of life.


#AirPollution

Data centers, especially gas-powered data centers, emit significant pollutants, such as nitrogen oxides, methane, volatile organic compounds, and fine particulate matter. According to a September 2025 study, these pollutants increase rates of respiratory diseases and cardiovascular conditions, and they elevate cancer risks among nearby communities. A 2025 model indicates that U.S. data centers in 2030 could cause approximately 600,000 asthma symptom cases and 1,300 premature deaths, exceeding 1/3 of asthma deaths in the U.S. each year, resulting in a public health burden of more than $20 billion.


#WaterWaste

Data centers require water to cool computer servers so they do not become too hot to function. A large data center will use up to 5 million gallons of water daily. Drawing from local water supplies, these facilities are slurping up resources that should be available to residents in water-scarce regions. In fact, data centers increase the threat of water insecurity, and thus dehydration and poor hygiene.

Nevertheless, a 2025 report by SourceMaterial and The Guardian found that Google has seven active data centers in water-scarce areas of the U.S. and was planning to build six more. Prior to this, in 2023, the state of Arizona revoked construction permits for new homes due to a scarcity of groundwater in Maricopa County, where Meta has one data center, Microsoft has two data centers, and Google has one data center with a second in development.


Cost Increase for Home Energy Consumers

Data centers have typically not paid their fair share in utilities, particularly for electricity consumption, and in those situations other consumers (including residential customers) have had to pay more than they otherwise would.

Utility companies identify data centers as large load customers, meaning that they require a lot more energy from the power grid. When a utility grid operator must add new infrastructure to accommodate growing populations or large load customers, rates may increase for all users in that region, despite attempts to regulate those increases or to allocate costs to the large load customer. In fact, utility grid operators will sometimes negotiate lower rates to incentivize large load customers to build in their territory, meaning that additional expenses must be covered by the other customer segments.

Last year, analysts estimated a 20% rate increase for Pennsylvania households. The U.S. Energy Information Administration shows the average resident has been paying 37% more for electricity since 2020. U.S. energy demand is expected to grow 2.5% annually over the next decade. Therefore, it is likely that residents will see an increase in energy rates. These trends indicate data centers make cost of living more expensive.

In response to escalating concerns over energy costs, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro recently announced new standards that require data center developers to construct their own energy sources or pay for the upgrades to the grid, sparing local consumers the costs. It remains to be seen how, when, and for which facilities those standards will be enforced, but even if the average home is spared the additional financial costs of a data center boom, there is still the price of numerous environmental hazards listed above, especially if new data centers rely on fracked gas for power.

This data center boom and the subsequent demand for more energy presents an opportunity to protect public health and to invest in renewable energy as a driver of the economy, but we need to make that choice now. If data centers are encroaching on our region, they must be powered by cleaner, renewable sources of energy to avoid imposing additional health hazards associated with oil and gas development onto nearby communities.


Who Is Affected?

As with other forms of air pollution, those at increased risk include children, developing fetuses, pregnant people, elderly, and individuals with chronic respiratory or cardiovascular disease.

Data Centers also pose environmental justice concerns because they disproportionately affect minority and #LowIncome communities [like #SanfordME]. First, trends point to energy sources that fuel data centers being built near #BlackCommunities, which suffer the consequences of exposure to pollution, identified above. Plus, research indicates that the automation capabilities of AI are predicted to replace more jobs performed by Black people, and thus widening systemic inequities that overwhelmingly keep Black households at an economic disadvantage.

This trend is not a new one. In fact, for people throughout our region, it is a familiar story. Data centers powered by fracked gas, like other oil and gas industries, threaten some of our most vulnerable community members, but they also put every nearby person at greater risk for health consequences—not to mention the added financial burden of health care costs.


What Can We Do?

The companies behind the data center boom are moving quickly into communities across the region, many with promises of prosperity. But some communities are pushing back and saying that data centers are not worth the health and environmental impacts. If you agree with that sentiment, there are steps you can take to combat data centers in your backyard.

- First, check if your municipality has a data center ordinance. If not, urge officials to adopt one.

- Then, identify opportunities for community participation before the proposed data center is approved. Will a public hearing be required? If so, take this opportunity to express your concerns and to share this resource with other community members.

- Next, reference nuisance control ordinances (rules for limiting noise, light, and vibrations), plus zoning laws that would restrict new data centers in your region.

- If the data center must be built, advocate for limiting the use of fossil fuels in both everyday operations and generator backups. Encourage decision makers and developers to utilize renewable energy sources, such as wind turbines and solar panels.

- Finally, urge decision makers to require any facility to report their emissions and share an emergency preparedness plan with the community."

To learn more:
https://www.environmentalhealthproject.org/post/the-dangers-of-data-centers

#ResistDatacenters #Resistance #FightBack #DatacentersSuck #EnvironmentalRacism #AIResistance #AISucks #AIDataCenters #DatacenterMoratorium

‘F*** this guy’: #Graduation speakers keep getting booed for talking about #ArtificialIntelligence

Commencement speakers want new graduates to feel optimistic about artificial intelligence — instead students are booing. New grads tell Josh Marcus that their fury about doddering policymakers and looming layoffs should be listened to

Saturday 23 May 2026 13:54 BST

"From coast to coast, commencement speakers have faced an audience of booing graduates each time they bring up artificial intelligence.

"The boos came when music executive #ScottBorchetta told the grads at Middle Tennessee State University, 'It’s a tool. Make it work for you.' The capped-and-gowned University of Central Florida crowd jeered when real estate executive #GloriaCaulfield called #AI the 'next industrial revolution.'

"But no one got it worse than former #Google CEO #EricSchmidt, whose May 15 speech at the University of Arizona was booed, nearly without interruption, for minutes on end.

" 'It was honestly one of the most surreal experiences,' Bailey Ekstrom, 21, an economics and political science graduate who was in the crowd, told The Independent. She had never seen campus opinion so unified, a mini-referendum suggesting the generation inheriting the post-AI world isn’t all that thrilled about it."

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/ai-college-graduation-eric-schmidt-google-b2981383.html

#ClassOf2026 #AISucks #DatacentersSuck

‘F*** this guy’: #Graduation speakers keep getting booed for talking about #ArtificialIntelligence

Commencement speakers want new graduates to feel optimistic about artificial intelligence — instead students are booing. New grads tell Josh Marcus that their fury about doddering policymakers and looming layoffs should be listened to

Saturday 23 May 2026 13:54 BST

"From coast to coast, commencement speakers have faced an audience of booing graduates each time they bring up artificial intelligence.

"The boos came when music executive #ScottBorchetta told the grads at Middle Tennessee State University, 'It’s a tool. Make it work for you.' The capped-and-gowned University of Central Florida crowd jeered when real estate executive #GloriaCaulfield called #AI the 'next industrial revolution.'

"But no one got it worse than former #Google CEO #EricSchmidt, whose May 15 speech at the University of Arizona was booed, nearly without interruption, for minutes on end.

" 'It was honestly one of the most surreal experiences,' Bailey Ekstrom, 21, an economics and political science graduate who was in the crowd, told The Independent. She had never seen campus opinion so unified, a mini-referendum suggesting the generation inheriting the post-AI world isn’t all that thrilled about it."

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/ai-college-graduation-eric-schmidt-google-b2981383.html

#ClassOf2026 #AISucks #DatacentersSuck

#SanfordME imposes emergency #DatacenterMoratorium, halting #MousamRiver project

The 91-day pause to allow for a task force to review concerns will affect a proposal for the 1,000-acre Sanford Woods Industrial and Technical Campus.

SANFORD — "The City Council on Tuesday night approved a three-month emergency moratorium on data centers, temporarily stopping a proposal for a 1,000-acre center along the Mousam River.

"The council voted unanimously in favor of the 91-day moratorium, which puts a pause on the acceptance, approval or issuance of permits for any large scale data center proposal in the city. The moratorium takes effect immediately and will remain in place until Aug. 12.

"At the meeting, City Manager Steven Buck said there are plans to establish a task force dedicated to reviewing residents’ concerns and making recommendations for ordinance amendments on municipal regulations for data centers.

"After Maine Gov. #JanetMills vetoed a temporary statewide ban on #datacenters, several cities and towns — including Sanford — responded by introducing their own emergency moratoriums.

"There have been at least eight data centers proposed across Maine, though some have been withdrawn. One that’s still on the table is the Sanford Woods Industrial and Technical Campus, which would cover about 1,000 acres of land along and near the Mousam River.

"At the council’s prior meeting on May 5, Sanford Mayor Becky Brink criticized Mills’ veto and said the city government would take action on its own.

" 'I feel like the state let us down,' she said. 'We as a city — and all of us have spoken — we are going to protect Sanford.' "

Read more:
https://www.pressherald.com/2026/05/19/sanford-imposes-emergency-data-center-moratorium-halting-mousam-river-project/

Archived version:
https://archive.md/xkkvV

#ResistBigData #MaineResists
#MainePol #DatacentersSuck #Datacenters #NoisePollution #WaterIsLife #EnergyConsumption #AISucks

#SanfordME imposes emergency #DatacenterMoratorium, halting #MousamRiver project

The 91-day pause to allow for a task force to review concerns will affect a proposal for the 1,000-acre Sanford Woods Industrial and Technical Campus.

SANFORD — "The City Council on Tuesday night approved a three-month emergency moratorium on data centers, temporarily stopping a proposal for a 1,000-acre center along the Mousam River.

"The council voted unanimously in favor of the 91-day moratorium, which puts a pause on the acceptance, approval or issuance of permits for any large scale data center proposal in the city. The moratorium takes effect immediately and will remain in place until Aug. 12.

"At the meeting, City Manager Steven Buck said there are plans to establish a task force dedicated to reviewing residents’ concerns and making recommendations for ordinance amendments on municipal regulations for data centers.

"After Maine Gov. #JanetMills vetoed a temporary statewide ban on #datacenters, several cities and towns — including Sanford — responded by introducing their own emergency moratoriums.

"There have been at least eight data centers proposed across Maine, though some have been withdrawn. One that’s still on the table is the Sanford Woods Industrial and Technical Campus, which would cover about 1,000 acres of land along and near the Mousam River.

"At the council’s prior meeting on May 5, Sanford Mayor Becky Brink criticized Mills’ veto and said the city government would take action on its own.

" 'I feel like the state let us down,' she said. 'We as a city — and all of us have spoken — we are going to protect Sanford.' "

Read more:
https://www.pressherald.com/2026/05/19/sanford-imposes-emergency-data-center-moratorium-halting-mousam-river-project/

Archived version:
https://archive.md/xkkvV

#ResistBigData #MaineResists
#MainePol #DatacentersSuck #Datacenters #NoisePollution #WaterIsLife #EnergyConsumption #AISucks

#SanfordME imposes emergency #DatacenterMoratorium, halting #MousamRiver project

The 91-day pause to allow for a task force to review concerns will affect a proposal for the 1,000-acre Sanford Woods Industrial and Technical Campus.

SANFORD — "The City Council on Tuesday night approved a three-month emergency moratorium on data centers, temporarily stopping a proposal for a 1,000-acre center along the Mousam River.

"The council voted unanimously in favor of the 91-day moratorium, which puts a pause on the acceptance, approval or issuance of permits for any large scale data center proposal in the city. The moratorium takes effect immediately and will remain in place until Aug. 12.

"At the meeting, City Manager Steven Buck said there are plans to establish a task force dedicated to reviewing residents’ concerns and making recommendations for ordinance amendments on municipal regulations for data centers.

"After Maine Gov. #JanetMills vetoed a temporary statewide ban on #datacenters, several cities and towns — including Sanford — responded by introducing their own emergency moratoriums.

"There have been at least eight data centers proposed across Maine, though some have been withdrawn. One that’s still on the table is the Sanford Woods Industrial and Technical Campus, which would cover about 1,000 acres of land along and near the Mousam River.

"At the council’s prior meeting on May 5, Sanford Mayor Becky Brink criticized Mills’ veto and said the city government would take action on its own.

" 'I feel like the state let us down,' she said. 'We as a city — and all of us have spoken — we are going to protect Sanford.' "

Read more:
https://www.pressherald.com/2026/05/19/sanford-imposes-emergency-data-center-moratorium-halting-mousam-river-project/

Archived version:
https://archive.md/xkkvV

#ResistBigData #MaineResists
#MainePol #DatacentersSuck #Datacenters #NoisePollution #WaterIsLife #EnergyConsumption #AISucks

#SanfordME imposes emergency #DatacenterMoratorium, halting #MousamRiver project

The 91-day pause to allow for a task force to review concerns will affect a proposal for the 1,000-acre Sanford Woods Industrial and Technical Campus.

SANFORD — "The City Council on Tuesday night approved a three-month emergency moratorium on data centers, temporarily stopping a proposal for a 1,000-acre center along the Mousam River.

"The council voted unanimously in favor of the 91-day moratorium, which puts a pause on the acceptance, approval or issuance of permits for any large scale data center proposal in the city. The moratorium takes effect immediately and will remain in place until Aug. 12.

"At the meeting, City Manager Steven Buck said there are plans to establish a task force dedicated to reviewing residents’ concerns and making recommendations for ordinance amendments on municipal regulations for data centers.

"After Maine Gov. #JanetMills vetoed a temporary statewide ban on #datacenters, several cities and towns — including Sanford — responded by introducing their own emergency moratoriums.

"There have been at least eight data centers proposed across Maine, though some have been withdrawn. One that’s still on the table is the Sanford Woods Industrial and Technical Campus, which would cover about 1,000 acres of land along and near the Mousam River.

"At the council’s prior meeting on May 5, Sanford Mayor Becky Brink criticized Mills’ veto and said the city government would take action on its own.

" 'I feel like the state let us down,' she said. 'We as a city — and all of us have spoken — we are going to protect Sanford.' "

Read more:
https://www.pressherald.com/2026/05/19/sanford-imposes-emergency-data-center-moratorium-halting-mousam-river-project/

Archived version:
https://archive.md/xkkvV

#ResistBigData #MaineResists
#MainePol #DatacentersSuck #Datacenters #NoisePollution #WaterIsLife #EnergyConsumption #AISucks

#SanfordME imposes emergency #DatacenterMoratorium, halting #MousamRiver project

The 91-day pause to allow for a task force to review concerns will affect a proposal for the 1,000-acre Sanford Woods Industrial and Technical Campus.

SANFORD — "The City Council on Tuesday night approved a three-month emergency moratorium on data centers, temporarily stopping a proposal for a 1,000-acre center along the Mousam River.

"The council voted unanimously in favor of the 91-day moratorium, which puts a pause on the acceptance, approval or issuance of permits for any large scale data center proposal in the city. The moratorium takes effect immediately and will remain in place until Aug. 12.

"At the meeting, City Manager Steven Buck said there are plans to establish a task force dedicated to reviewing residents’ concerns and making recommendations for ordinance amendments on municipal regulations for data centers.

"After Maine Gov. #JanetMills vetoed a temporary statewide ban on #datacenters, several cities and towns — including Sanford — responded by introducing their own emergency moratoriums.

"There have been at least eight data centers proposed across Maine, though some have been withdrawn. One that’s still on the table is the Sanford Woods Industrial and Technical Campus, which would cover about 1,000 acres of land along and near the Mousam River.

"At the council’s prior meeting on May 5, Sanford Mayor Becky Brink criticized Mills’ veto and said the city government would take action on its own.

" 'I feel like the state let us down,' she said. 'We as a city — and all of us have spoken — we are going to protect Sanford.' "

Read more:
https://www.pressherald.com/2026/05/19/sanford-imposes-emergency-data-center-moratorium-halting-mousam-river-project/

Archived version:
https://archive.md/xkkvV

#ResistBigData #MaineResists
#MainePol #DatacentersSuck #Datacenters #NoisePollution #WaterIsLife #EnergyConsumption #AISucks

#Maine municipal leaders to vote on #DatacenterMoratoriums amid concerns

by Brad Rogers,WGME
Wed, May 20, 2026 at 4:16 PM
Updated Thu, May 21, 2026 at 5:33 AM

SCARBOROUGH, Maine (WGME) -- "New massive data centers are being proposed in #ScarboroughME, #SanfordME, #JayME and other Maine communities, raising concerns among some Mainers in those communities.

"A developer wants to build the #ScarboroughTechnologyPark — a 140,000-square-foot data center with supporting infrastructure on 52 acres west of the Maine Turnpike and north of #TwoRodRoad.

"Town leaders in Scarborough say they need time to study the impacts of the proposed project, while some neighbors are already voicing opposition.

" 'This is a pretty quiet neighborhood, and it’s going to just destroy the neighborhood and the property values,' said Warren Hamilton, who opposes the #datacenter planned behind his home."

Read more:
https://wgme.com/news/local/maine-municipal-leaders-to-vote-on-data-center-moratoriums-amid-concerns-maine-technology-environment-power-gird-quality-of-life-issues

#ResistBigData #MaineResists
#MainePol #DatacentersSuck #Datacenters #NoisePollution #WaterIsLife #EnergyConsumption #AISucks

#Maine municipal leaders to vote on #DatacenterMoratoriums amid concerns

by Brad Rogers,WGME
Wed, May 20, 2026 at 4:16 PM
Updated Thu, May 21, 2026 at 5:33 AM

SCARBOROUGH, Maine (WGME) -- "New massive data centers are being proposed in #ScarboroughME, #SanfordME, #JayME and other Maine communities, raising concerns among some Mainers in those communities.

"A developer wants to build the #ScarboroughTechnologyPark — a 140,000-square-foot data center with supporting infrastructure on 52 acres west of the Maine Turnpike and north of #TwoRodRoad.

"Town leaders in Scarborough say they need time to study the impacts of the proposed project, while some neighbors are already voicing opposition.

" 'This is a pretty quiet neighborhood, and it’s going to just destroy the neighborhood and the property values,' said Warren Hamilton, who opposes the #datacenter planned behind his home."

Read more:
https://wgme.com/news/local/maine-municipal-leaders-to-vote-on-data-center-moratoriums-amid-concerns-maine-technology-environment-power-gird-quality-of-life-issues

#ResistBigData #MaineResists
#MainePol #DatacentersSuck #Datacenters #NoisePollution #WaterIsLife #EnergyConsumption #AISucks

#BrunswickME considers pause on #datacenter proposals

There will be a public hearing on the proposed moratorium on June 1.

by Katie Langley, Posted May 19, 2026, Updated May 20

"Brunswick is among several Maine municipalities considering moratoriums on large-scale data centers after Gov. #JanetMills vetoed a bill that would have temporarily restricted such developments.

"At a Monday night meeting, Brunswick’s town councilors set a June 1 public hearing on the proposed moratorium. If passed, the moratorium would give the town 180 days to gather information on the impact of data centers and set regulations on their development.

"The drafted moratorium closely mirrors other temporary policies being considered in towns and cities including #WestbrookME, which uses the same law firm as Brunswick.

"Town councilors on Monday removed a section in the draft moratorium that defined data centers as having a gross floor area of at least 10,000 square feet or electrical capacities of at least 20 megawatts. Instead, data center projects with an electrical capacity of 1 megawatt or more would be prohibited during the moratorium period.

"Brunswick has an existing, smaller-scale data center on #BrunswickLanding, owned by internet company #FirstLight, that town leaders have said has not been an issue and does not store artificial intelligence data.

"Town Manager Julia Henze said Monday night that there are no proposals for data centers on the horizon for Brunswick, but a moratorium would give the council time to update town ordinances and be prepared for such projects.

"Other municipalities, including #SanfordME and #ScarboroughME, are considering data center moratoriums in response to already proposed projects."

Read more:
https://www.pressherald.com/2026/05/20/brunswick-considers-pause-on-data-center-proposals/

Archived version:
https://archive.md/tt3nk

#ResistBigData #MaineResists
#MainePol #DatacenterMoratoriums #DatacentersSuck #Datacenters #NoisePollution #WaterIsLife #EnergyConsumption #AISucks

#BrunswickME considers pause on #datacenter proposals

There will be a public hearing on the proposed moratorium on June 1.

by Katie Langley, Posted May 19, 2026, Updated May 20

"Brunswick is among several Maine municipalities considering moratoriums on large-scale data centers after Gov. #JanetMills vetoed a bill that would have temporarily restricted such developments.

"At a Monday night meeting, Brunswick’s town councilors set a June 1 public hearing on the proposed moratorium. If passed, the moratorium would give the town 180 days to gather information on the impact of data centers and set regulations on their development.

"The drafted moratorium closely mirrors other temporary policies being considered in towns and cities including #WestbrookME, which uses the same law firm as Brunswick.

"Town councilors on Monday removed a section in the draft moratorium that defined data centers as having a gross floor area of at least 10,000 square feet or electrical capacities of at least 20 megawatts. Instead, data center projects with an electrical capacity of 1 megawatt or more would be prohibited during the moratorium period.

"Brunswick has an existing, smaller-scale data center on #BrunswickLanding, owned by internet company #FirstLight, that town leaders have said has not been an issue and does not store artificial intelligence data.

"Town Manager Julia Henze said Monday night that there are no proposals for data centers on the horizon for Brunswick, but a moratorium would give the council time to update town ordinances and be prepared for such projects.

"Other municipalities, including #SanfordME and #ScarboroughME, are considering data center moratoriums in response to already proposed projects."

Read more:
https://www.pressherald.com/2026/05/20/brunswick-considers-pause-on-data-center-proposals/

Archived version:
https://archive.md/tt3nk

#ResistBigData #MaineResists
#MainePol #DatacenterMoratoriums #DatacentersSuck #Datacenters #NoisePollution #WaterIsLife #EnergyConsumption #AISucks

#Arkansas Advocate: Arkansas Explained -- Understanding the #Datacenter boom and debate

by Ainsley Platt, Arkansas Advocate May 23, 2026

"Hailed by officials and economic developers as a boon to the state, data center projects heading to Arkansas are facing increasing scrutiny and calls for local regulations.

"Since an overhaul of energy permitting laws credited with luring more data centers was enacted last year, companies have announced plans for five such projects statewide. Two of them are already under construction.

"But the rapid announcements and #secretive negotiations with local governments and business chambers have prompted an outcry from some #Arkansans. Reassurances from utilities that costs won’t be shifted to existing customers haven’t assuaged fears.

[...]

"In central Arkansas, residents opposed to #datacenters crowded into board rooms in #ConwayAK and #LittleRockAK, while many more commented on social media videos and posts expressing their dismay over data center projects.

"Momentum for regulations on data centers is also picking up in Arkansas’ most-populous county, even after the Pulaski County Quorum Court voted to send proposed regulations to the county planning department for a 90-day review.

"Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott, Jr. who stood with supporters at a press conference last week, announced his support Tuesday for data center regulations.

"Wendell Griffen, the Democratic nominee for Pulaski County’s top elected position who wrote Pulaski County’s proposed regulations, has made data center regulation a central part of his campaign. Griffen has pushed for the quorum court to enact an emergency moratorium."

Read more:
https://www.magnoliareporter.com/news_and_business/regional_news/article_847cf3f1-18cf-4338-aaa9-3159ee179c5a.html

#ArkansasPol #DatacenterMoratoriums #ResistBigData #MaineResists
#DatacentersSuck #Datacenters #NoisePollution #WaterIsLife #EnergyConsumption #AISucks

#Arkansas Advocate: Arkansas Explained -- Understanding the #Datacenter boom and debate

by Ainsley Platt, Arkansas Advocate May 23, 2026

"Hailed by officials and economic developers as a boon to the state, data center projects heading to Arkansas are facing increasing scrutiny and calls for local regulations.

"Since an overhaul of energy permitting laws credited with luring more data centers was enacted last year, companies have announced plans for five such projects statewide. Two of them are already under construction.

"But the rapid announcements and #secretive negotiations with local governments and business chambers have prompted an outcry from some #Arkansans. Reassurances from utilities that costs won’t be shifted to existing customers haven’t assuaged fears.

[...]

"In central Arkansas, residents opposed to #datacenters crowded into board rooms in #ConwayAK and #LittleRockAK, while many more commented on social media videos and posts expressing their dismay over data center projects.

"Momentum for regulations on data centers is also picking up in Arkansas’ most-populous county, even after the Pulaski County Quorum Court voted to send proposed regulations to the county planning department for a 90-day review.

"Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott, Jr. who stood with supporters at a press conference last week, announced his support Tuesday for data center regulations.

"Wendell Griffen, the Democratic nominee for Pulaski County’s top elected position who wrote Pulaski County’s proposed regulations, has made data center regulation a central part of his campaign. Griffen has pushed for the quorum court to enact an emergency moratorium."

Read more:
https://www.magnoliareporter.com/news_and_business/regional_news/article_847cf3f1-18cf-4338-aaa9-3159ee179c5a.html

#ArkansasPol #DatacenterMoratoriums #ResistBigData #MaineResists
#DatacentersSuck #Datacenters #NoisePollution #WaterIsLife #EnergyConsumption #AISucks

#WestbrookME considers moratorium on #AIDataCenters as debate grows across #Maine

Story by Drew Peters, 5/18/2026

"The Westbrook City Council is expected to decide Monday whether to temporarily halt new #Datacenter development as communities across Maine continue weighing the benefits and risks tied to the growing artificial intelligence industry.

"The proposal would create a 180-day moratorium on new data center projects in Westbrook. City leaders said the pause would give officials time to update ordinances and better understand how large-scale facilities could impact the city’s electric grid, water supply, and taxpayers.

"The discussion comes as Maine communities increasingly debate the future of AI-related infrastructure. Last month, Gov. #JanetMills vetoed a bill that would have imposed a statewide moratorium on data centers.

" 'This is a subject that has the potential to destroy our community,' Westbrook resident Marnie Ward said ahead of the meeting.

"Ward said she has followed reports of data center development in other parts of the country and worries promises made by developers may not always be fulfilled.

" 'Places where companies have promised to put in things like their own electrical generation and they don’t do it,' Ward said.

"She questioned whether the economic benefits outweigh the environmental and infrastructure costs.

" 'What’s the benefit, and does the benefit of having one of these data centers outweigh the costs it’s going to be?' Ward said.

"Mayor David Morse said the proposed moratorium is intended to help the city prepare before a project proposal arrives."

Read more:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/westbrook-considers-moratorium-on-ai-data-centers-as-debate-grows-across-maine/ar-AA23vE6W

#ResistBigData #MaineResists
#MainePol #DatacenterMoratoriums #DatacentersSuck #Datacenters #NoisePollution #WaterIsLife #EnergyConsumption #AISucks

#WestbrookME considers moratorium on #AIDataCenters as debate grows across #Maine

Story by Drew Peters, 5/18/2026

"The Westbrook City Council is expected to decide Monday whether to temporarily halt new #Datacenter development as communities across Maine continue weighing the benefits and risks tied to the growing artificial intelligence industry.

"The proposal would create a 180-day moratorium on new data center projects in Westbrook. City leaders said the pause would give officials time to update ordinances and better understand how large-scale facilities could impact the city’s electric grid, water supply, and taxpayers.

"The discussion comes as Maine communities increasingly debate the future of AI-related infrastructure. Last month, Gov. #JanetMills vetoed a bill that would have imposed a statewide moratorium on data centers.

" 'This is a subject that has the potential to destroy our community,' Westbrook resident Marnie Ward said ahead of the meeting.

"Ward said she has followed reports of data center development in other parts of the country and worries promises made by developers may not always be fulfilled.

" 'Places where companies have promised to put in things like their own electrical generation and they don’t do it,' Ward said.

"She questioned whether the economic benefits outweigh the environmental and infrastructure costs.

" 'What’s the benefit, and does the benefit of having one of these data centers outweigh the costs it’s going to be?' Ward said.

"Mayor David Morse said the proposed moratorium is intended to help the city prepare before a project proposal arrives."

Read more:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/westbrook-considers-moratorium-on-ai-data-centers-as-debate-grows-across-maine/ar-AA23vE6W

#ResistBigData #MaineResists
#MainePol #DatacenterMoratoriums #DatacentersSuck #Datacenters #NoisePollution #WaterIsLife #EnergyConsumption #AISucks

#JanetMills vetoed a #DataCenter pause. Towns are looking to pass their own.

At least four municipalities have proposed their own moratoriums on new data center development while they refine local regulations.

by Daniel Kool, May 18, 2026

"Without a statewide moratorium on large data center development, a patchwork of local laws appears to be forming in #Maine.

"Weeks after Gov. Janet Mills vetoed a bill to temporarily restrict permitting for new data centers of 20 megawatts or more, at least four towns and cities are considering enacting their own moratoriums. The local pauses are designed to give officials time to review their zoning rules and develop new regulations for large data centers — should they ever come to town.

"Some, like those in Sanford and Scarborough, come as developers have already proposed building data centers in town. Others, like in Brunswick and Westbrook, are designed to get ahead of potential data center construction. All four communities plan to discuss their proposals at meetings this week.

"Though these local proposals have taken on new urgency in a lieu of a broader moratorium, they are not the first of their kind. The Bangor City Council unanimously passed a city-wide pause in April, days before Mills shot down the statewide effort. Anne Krieg, the town’s director of development, said they 'didn’t want to wait for the state,' as development pressure mounted."

Read more:
https://www.pressherald.com/2026/05/18/mills-vetoed-a-data-center-pause-towns-are-looking-to-pass-their-own/

Archived version:
https://archive.md/gSis4

#ResistBigData #MaineResists #MainePol #DatacenterMoratoriums #BangorME #ScarboroughME #SanfordME #BrunswickME #WestbrookME #DatacentersSuck #NoisePollution #WaterIsLife #EnergyConsumption #AISucks

#JanetMills vetoed a #DataCenter pause. Towns are looking to pass their own.

At least four municipalities have proposed their own moratoriums on new data center development while they refine local regulations.

by Daniel Kool, May 18, 2026

"Without a statewide moratorium on large data center development, a patchwork of local laws appears to be forming in #Maine.

"Weeks after Gov. Janet Mills vetoed a bill to temporarily restrict permitting for new data centers of 20 megawatts or more, at least four towns and cities are considering enacting their own moratoriums. The local pauses are designed to give officials time to review their zoning rules and develop new regulations for large data centers — should they ever come to town.

"Some, like those in Sanford and Scarborough, come as developers have already proposed building data centers in town. Others, like in Brunswick and Westbrook, are designed to get ahead of potential data center construction. All four communities plan to discuss their proposals at meetings this week.

"Though these local proposals have taken on new urgency in a lieu of a broader moratorium, they are not the first of their kind. The Bangor City Council unanimously passed a city-wide pause in April, days before Mills shot down the statewide effort. Anne Krieg, the town’s director of development, said they 'didn’t want to wait for the state,' as development pressure mounted."

Read more:
https://www.pressherald.com/2026/05/18/mills-vetoed-a-data-center-pause-towns-are-looking-to-pass-their-own/

Archived version:
https://archive.md/gSis4

#ResistBigData #MaineResists #MainePol #DatacenterMoratoriums #BangorME #ScarboroughME #SanfordME #BrunswickME #WestbrookME #DatacentersSuck #NoisePollution #WaterIsLife #EnergyConsumption #AISucks

New filing stirs #GreatSaltLake fears as giant #Utah #DataCenter comes into view, eyes water needs

by Jennifer Green
Thu, May 21, 2026

"A new #WaterRights filing tied to a proposed #MegaDatacenter in northern Utah is renewing fears about the future of the Great Salt Lake, just as new renderings offer the clearest look yet at what the massive development could become.

"What's happening?

"A proposal connected to the #BoxElderCounty data center project seeks to transfer 11 acre-feet of water from an unnamed spring in #HanselValley, KSL reported.

"That marks a steep drop from a previous 1,900-acre-foot application that was withdrawn May 7 after prompting around 3,800 protests.

[...]

"The proposal is facing intense scrutiny because the Great Salt Lake is already under strain from long-term water shortages, and data centers can consume huge amounts of both electricity and water.

"Critics worry that even relatively small individual filings could add up over time if the development expands toward its full vision, which includes 7.5 to 9 gigawatts of power-producing capacity."

Read more:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/filing-stirs-great-salt-lake-084000807.html

#WaterIsLife #ThermalPollution
#HeatGeneration #Drought #GreatSaltLake #Environment #EnvironmentalCatastrophe
#UtahPol #Datacenters
#DatacentersSuck #SharkTank
#AISucks

New filing stirs #GreatSaltLake fears as giant #Utah #DataCenter comes into view, eyes water needs

by Jennifer Green
Thu, May 21, 2026

"A new #WaterRights filing tied to a proposed #MegaDatacenter in northern Utah is renewing fears about the future of the Great Salt Lake, just as new renderings offer the clearest look yet at what the massive development could become.

"What's happening?

"A proposal connected to the #BoxElderCounty data center project seeks to transfer 11 acre-feet of water from an unnamed spring in #HanselValley, KSL reported.

"That marks a steep drop from a previous 1,900-acre-foot application that was withdrawn May 7 after prompting around 3,800 protests.

[...]

"The proposal is facing intense scrutiny because the Great Salt Lake is already under strain from long-term water shortages, and data centers can consume huge amounts of both electricity and water.

"Critics worry that even relatively small individual filings could add up over time if the development expands toward its full vision, which includes 7.5 to 9 gigawatts of power-producing capacity."

Read more:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/filing-stirs-great-salt-lake-084000807.html

#WaterIsLife #ThermalPollution
#HeatGeneration #Drought #GreatSaltLake #Environment #EnvironmentalCatastrophe
#UtahPol #Datacenters
#DatacentersSuck #SharkTank
#AISucks

Tribune editorial: The voice of the people has pushed #Utah leaders to stop and think about massive #DataCenter. Keep it up.

This is an issue that has united people across the political spectrum.

By The Salt Lake Tribune Editorial Board
| May 22, 2026

"The fear that a ginormous, water-guzzling, air-befouling, weather-modifying data center planned for Utah’s northwest corner was a done deal seems to be easing just a bit. It’s not hard to see why.

A handful of key state officials are now promising that, before the project actually gets built — if it ever does — the appropriate environmental reviews, with opportunities for public comment, will happen.

"That doesn’t mean that the people who have stood up to what appeared to be a pre-greased mega-project can rest easy. Vigilance and activism are what have worked so far, and will be necessary going forward. As long and exhausting as that process might be.

"It will take a lot of continual public outcry to counterbalance the monied interests pouring campaign contributions into the coffers of Utah Senate President #StuartAdams and other powerful worthies who have been pushing the plan.

"Few Utahns had any inkling that a little-known state agency called the Military Installation Development Authority (#MIDA), which Adams chairs, had put its weight behind the #StratosProject, a proposed data center that would, at full build-out, generate and consume twice as much electricity as the whole state of Utah.

"The Box Elder County Commission had to sign off on the project before the MIDA board could take over all land-use, water, energy, environmental and tax-abatement authority over the 40,000-acre project — immune from any democratic oversight.
Get Inside Voices newsletter. A weekly collection of ideas, perspectives and solutions from across Utah.

"Despite loud public objections, online and in person, commissioners did exactly that. Given that the land is privately owned, not part of any city and not zoned for any particular use, commissioners argued they really didn’t have the power to stop it.

"But others do."

Read more:
https://www.sltrib.com/opinion/editorial/2026/05/22/tribune-editorial-public-outcry/

#UtahPol #KevinOLeary #WaterConsumption #HeatPollution #ResistDatacenters #WaterIsLife #ThermalPollution #HeatGeneration
#Drought #GreatSaltLake
#Environment #EnvironmentalCatastrophe #Datacenters #DatacentersSuck
#SharkTank #AISucks

Tribune editorial: The voice of the people has pushed #Utah leaders to stop and think about massive #DataCenter. Keep it up.

This is an issue that has united people across the political spectrum.

By The Salt Lake Tribune Editorial Board
| May 22, 2026

"The fear that a ginormous, water-guzzling, air-befouling, weather-modifying data center planned for Utah’s northwest corner was a done deal seems to be easing just a bit. It’s not hard to see why.

A handful of key state officials are now promising that, before the project actually gets built — if it ever does — the appropriate environmental reviews, with opportunities for public comment, will happen.

"That doesn’t mean that the people who have stood up to what appeared to be a pre-greased mega-project can rest easy. Vigilance and activism are what have worked so far, and will be necessary going forward. As long and exhausting as that process might be.

"It will take a lot of continual public outcry to counterbalance the monied interests pouring campaign contributions into the coffers of Utah Senate President #StuartAdams and other powerful worthies who have been pushing the plan.

"Few Utahns had any inkling that a little-known state agency called the Military Installation Development Authority (#MIDA), which Adams chairs, had put its weight behind the #StratosProject, a proposed data center that would, at full build-out, generate and consume twice as much electricity as the whole state of Utah.

"The Box Elder County Commission had to sign off on the project before the MIDA board could take over all land-use, water, energy, environmental and tax-abatement authority over the 40,000-acre project — immune from any democratic oversight.
Get Inside Voices newsletter. A weekly collection of ideas, perspectives and solutions from across Utah.

"Despite loud public objections, online and in person, commissioners did exactly that. Given that the land is privately owned, not part of any city and not zoned for any particular use, commissioners argued they really didn’t have the power to stop it.

"But others do."

Read more:
https://www.sltrib.com/opinion/editorial/2026/05/22/tribune-editorial-public-outcry/

#UtahPol #KevinOLeary #WaterConsumption #HeatPollution #ResistDatacenters #WaterIsLife #ThermalPollution #HeatGeneration
#Drought #GreatSaltLake
#Environment #EnvironmentalCatastrophe #Datacenters #DatacentersSuck
#SharkTank #AISucks

Tribune editorial: The voice of the people has pushed #Utah leaders to stop and think about massive #DataCenter. Keep it up.

This is an issue that has united people across the political spectrum.

By The Salt Lake Tribune Editorial Board
| May 22, 2026

"The fear that a ginormous, water-guzzling, air-befouling, weather-modifying data center planned for Utah’s northwest corner was a done deal seems to be easing just a bit. It’s not hard to see why.

A handful of key state officials are now promising that, before the project actually gets built — if it ever does — the appropriate environmental reviews, with opportunities for public comment, will happen.

"That doesn’t mean that the people who have stood up to what appeared to be a pre-greased mega-project can rest easy. Vigilance and activism are what have worked so far, and will be necessary going forward. As long and exhausting as that process might be.

"It will take a lot of continual public outcry to counterbalance the monied interests pouring campaign contributions into the coffers of Utah Senate President #StuartAdams and other powerful worthies who have been pushing the plan.

"Few Utahns had any inkling that a little-known state agency called the Military Installation Development Authority (#MIDA), which Adams chairs, had put its weight behind the #StratosProject, a proposed data center that would, at full build-out, generate and consume twice as much electricity as the whole state of Utah.

"The Box Elder County Commission had to sign off on the project before the MIDA board could take over all land-use, water, energy, environmental and tax-abatement authority over the 40,000-acre project — immune from any democratic oversight.
Get Inside Voices newsletter. A weekly collection of ideas, perspectives and solutions from across Utah.

"Despite loud public objections, online and in person, commissioners did exactly that. Given that the land is privately owned, not part of any city and not zoned for any particular use, commissioners argued they really didn’t have the power to stop it.

"But others do."

Read more:
https://www.sltrib.com/opinion/editorial/2026/05/22/tribune-editorial-public-outcry/

#UtahPol #KevinOLeary #WaterConsumption #HeatPollution #ResistDatacenters #WaterIsLife #ThermalPollution #HeatGeneration
#Drought #GreatSaltLake
#Environment #EnvironmentalCatastrophe #Datacenters #DatacentersSuck
#SharkTank #AISucks

Tribune editorial: The voice of the people has pushed #Utah leaders to stop and think about massive #DataCenter. Keep it up.

This is an issue that has united people across the political spectrum.

By The Salt Lake Tribune Editorial Board
| May 22, 2026

"The fear that a ginormous, water-guzzling, air-befouling, weather-modifying data center planned for Utah’s northwest corner was a done deal seems to be easing just a bit. It’s not hard to see why.

A handful of key state officials are now promising that, before the project actually gets built — if it ever does — the appropriate environmental reviews, with opportunities for public comment, will happen.

"That doesn’t mean that the people who have stood up to what appeared to be a pre-greased mega-project can rest easy. Vigilance and activism are what have worked so far, and will be necessary going forward. As long and exhausting as that process might be.

"It will take a lot of continual public outcry to counterbalance the monied interests pouring campaign contributions into the coffers of Utah Senate President #StuartAdams and other powerful worthies who have been pushing the plan.

"Few Utahns had any inkling that a little-known state agency called the Military Installation Development Authority (#MIDA), which Adams chairs, had put its weight behind the #StratosProject, a proposed data center that would, at full build-out, generate and consume twice as much electricity as the whole state of Utah.

"The Box Elder County Commission had to sign off on the project before the MIDA board could take over all land-use, water, energy, environmental and tax-abatement authority over the 40,000-acre project — immune from any democratic oversight.
Get Inside Voices newsletter. A weekly collection of ideas, perspectives and solutions from across Utah.

"Despite loud public objections, online and in person, commissioners did exactly that. Given that the land is privately owned, not part of any city and not zoned for any particular use, commissioners argued they really didn’t have the power to stop it.

"But others do."

Read more:
https://www.sltrib.com/opinion/editorial/2026/05/22/tribune-editorial-public-outcry/

#UtahPol #KevinOLeary #WaterConsumption #HeatPollution #ResistDatacenters #WaterIsLife #ThermalPollution #HeatGeneration
#Drought #GreatSaltLake
#Environment #EnvironmentalCatastrophe #Datacenters #DatacentersSuck
#SharkTank #AISucks

Tribune editorial: The voice of the people has pushed #Utah leaders to stop and think about massive #DataCenter. Keep it up.

This is an issue that has united people across the political spectrum.

By The Salt Lake Tribune Editorial Board
| May 22, 2026

"The fear that a ginormous, water-guzzling, air-befouling, weather-modifying data center planned for Utah’s northwest corner was a done deal seems to be easing just a bit. It’s not hard to see why.

A handful of key state officials are now promising that, before the project actually gets built — if it ever does — the appropriate environmental reviews, with opportunities for public comment, will happen.

"That doesn’t mean that the people who have stood up to what appeared to be a pre-greased mega-project can rest easy. Vigilance and activism are what have worked so far, and will be necessary going forward. As long and exhausting as that process might be.

"It will take a lot of continual public outcry to counterbalance the monied interests pouring campaign contributions into the coffers of Utah Senate President #StuartAdams and other powerful worthies who have been pushing the plan.

"Few Utahns had any inkling that a little-known state agency called the Military Installation Development Authority (#MIDA), which Adams chairs, had put its weight behind the #StratosProject, a proposed data center that would, at full build-out, generate and consume twice as much electricity as the whole state of Utah.

"The Box Elder County Commission had to sign off on the project before the MIDA board could take over all land-use, water, energy, environmental and tax-abatement authority over the 40,000-acre project — immune from any democratic oversight.
Get Inside Voices newsletter. A weekly collection of ideas, perspectives and solutions from across Utah.

"Despite loud public objections, online and in person, commissioners did exactly that. Given that the land is privately owned, not part of any city and not zoned for any particular use, commissioners argued they really didn’t have the power to stop it.

"But others do."

Read more:
https://www.sltrib.com/opinion/editorial/2026/05/22/tribune-editorial-public-outcry/

#UtahPol #KevinOLeary #WaterConsumption #HeatPollution #ResistDatacenters #WaterIsLife #ThermalPollution #HeatGeneration
#Drought #GreatSaltLake
#Environment #EnvironmentalCatastrophe #Datacenters #DatacentersSuck
#SharkTank #AISucks

The 23-Atomic-Bomb Valley: Why #Utah’s #AIDataCenter Is A #ClimateDisaster In The Making

by Rex Freiberger
Wed, May 20, 2026 at 11:18 AM EDT

"Your state might be next. Utah counties just approved a data center so massive it would consume more power than the entire state currently uses, dump the heat equivalent of 23 atomic bombs daily into high desert, and potentially increase local #carbon emissions by 55%. Welcome to the #StratosProject—#KevinOLeary’s 40,000-acre bet that #AI supremacy trumps everything else."

[...]

"Utah State University physicist Robert Davies calculated #Stratos would dump 16 gigawatts of #ThermalLoad into the surrounding valley—energy equivalent to 23 Hiroshima-scale atomic bombs worth of #heat every single day. You’re trying to cool massive server farms by blowing hot desert air over hot radiators, Davies notes, which doesn’t work well in high-altitude, arid conditions.

"His projections show daytime temperatures rising 2-5°F and nighttime temperatures jumping 8-12°F across the region. #Desert #ecosystems depend on #NighttimeCooling to generate life-sustaining #condensation. Lose that temperature drop, and you’ve fundamentally altered how plants and animals survive in an already stressed #GreatSaltLakeWatershed."

Read more:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/23-atomic-bomb-valley-why-151828961.html

#Utah #WaterIsLife #ThermalPollution #HeatGeneration #Drought #GreatSaltLake #Environment #EnvironmentalCatastrophe #UtahPol #Datacenters #DatacentersSuck #SharkTank #AISucks

The 23-Atomic-Bomb Valley: Why #Utah’s #AIDataCenter Is A #ClimateDisaster In The Making

by Rex Freiberger
Wed, May 20, 2026 at 11:18 AM EDT

"Your state might be next. Utah counties just approved a data center so massive it would consume more power than the entire state currently uses, dump the heat equivalent of 23 atomic bombs daily into high desert, and potentially increase local #carbon emissions by 55%. Welcome to the #StratosProject—#KevinOLeary’s 40,000-acre bet that #AI supremacy trumps everything else."

[...]

"Utah State University physicist Robert Davies calculated #Stratos would dump 16 gigawatts of #ThermalLoad into the surrounding valley—energy equivalent to 23 Hiroshima-scale atomic bombs worth of #heat every single day. You’re trying to cool massive server farms by blowing hot desert air over hot radiators, Davies notes, which doesn’t work well in high-altitude, arid conditions.

"His projections show daytime temperatures rising 2-5°F and nighttime temperatures jumping 8-12°F across the region. #Desert #ecosystems depend on #NighttimeCooling to generate life-sustaining #condensation. Lose that temperature drop, and you’ve fundamentally altered how plants and animals survive in an already stressed #GreatSaltLakeWatershed."

Read more:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/23-atomic-bomb-valley-why-151828961.html

#Utah #WaterIsLife #ThermalPollution #HeatGeneration #Drought #GreatSaltLake #Environment #EnvironmentalCatastrophe #UtahPol #Datacenters #DatacentersSuck #SharkTank #AISucks

#Georgia #DataCenter Secretly Used 29 Million Gallons of Water, Exposed by Residents’ Low Water Pressure

By Staff Writer
May 11, 2026

#FayettevilleGA — "A major #datacenter campus in Fayette County, Georgia, drew nearly 30 million gallons of water through unmetered connections before the issue surfaced due to complaints of low water pressure from nearby homeowners, county officials said.

"The discovery, first reported by Politico, centers on the sprawling 615-acre #QTSDataCenter development located about 20 miles south of #Atlanta. #QualityTechnologyServices (QTS), owned by #Blackstone, operates the site, which is one of the largest data center projects in the United States.

"Fayette County investigators found that the campus had been pulling water through two connections the county was unaware of and had not properly billed. As a result, QTS was issued retroactive charges totaling $147,474. County officials estimated the unmetered usage covered roughly four months, while the company maintained the period was between nine and 15 months.

"Vanessa Tigert, director of the Fayette County Water System, attributed the oversight to an administrative error that occurred during the county’s transition to smart meters. [I call BULLSHIT!]

" 'Fayette County is a suburb, it’s mostly residential, and we don’t have much commercial meters in our system anyway,' Tigert said. 'And so we didn’t realize our connection point wasn’t working.'

"A QTS spokesperson confirmed the company paid the retroactive charges immediately upon notification and said the unmetered usage stemmed from the county’s meter system upgrade.

"No fines were issued. County officials emphasized they are maintaining a cooperative relationship with the developer.

"The Fayetteville campus currently includes 13 buildings encompassing approximately 6.2 million square feet. It is part of a larger planned development that could eventually include up to 16 buildings.

"The incident highlights growing tensions nationwide over the resource demands of data centers. Communities across the U.S. have become increasingly vocal about the strain these facilities place on local water supplies and electrical grids, leading to heightened opposition to new projects.

"In a separate but related development, an Indianapolis City-County Council member’s home was shot at in April shortly after he supported rezoning for a data center project. The attack on Ron Gibson came days after a 6–2 vote approving the nearly 14-acre facility in the Martindale-Brightwood neighborhood."

Source:
https://www.georgiarecord.com/business-ga/2026/05/11/georgia-data-center-secretly-used-29-million-gallons-of-water-exposed-by-residents-low-water-pressure/

#ResistDatacenters #Datacenters #WaterIsLife #AISucks #DatacentersSuck #EnergyHogs #NoisePollution #WaterConsumption #Secrecy

#Georgia #DataCenter Secretly Used 29 Million Gallons of Water, Exposed by Residents’ Low Water Pressure

By Staff Writer
May 11, 2026

#FayettevilleGA — "A major #datacenter campus in Fayette County, Georgia, drew nearly 30 million gallons of water through unmetered connections before the issue surfaced due to complaints of low water pressure from nearby homeowners, county officials said.

"The discovery, first reported by Politico, centers on the sprawling 615-acre #QTSDataCenter development located about 20 miles south of #Atlanta. #QualityTechnologyServices (QTS), owned by #Blackstone, operates the site, which is one of the largest data center projects in the United States.

"Fayette County investigators found that the campus had been pulling water through two connections the county was unaware of and had not properly billed. As a result, QTS was issued retroactive charges totaling $147,474. County officials estimated the unmetered usage covered roughly four months, while the company maintained the period was between nine and 15 months.

"Vanessa Tigert, director of the Fayette County Water System, attributed the oversight to an administrative error that occurred during the county’s transition to smart meters. [I call BULLSHIT!]

" 'Fayette County is a suburb, it’s mostly residential, and we don’t have much commercial meters in our system anyway,' Tigert said. 'And so we didn’t realize our connection point wasn’t working.'

"A QTS spokesperson confirmed the company paid the retroactive charges immediately upon notification and said the unmetered usage stemmed from the county’s meter system upgrade.

"No fines were issued. County officials emphasized they are maintaining a cooperative relationship with the developer.

"The Fayetteville campus currently includes 13 buildings encompassing approximately 6.2 million square feet. It is part of a larger planned development that could eventually include up to 16 buildings.

"The incident highlights growing tensions nationwide over the resource demands of data centers. Communities across the U.S. have become increasingly vocal about the strain these facilities place on local water supplies and electrical grids, leading to heightened opposition to new projects.

"In a separate but related development, an Indianapolis City-County Council member’s home was shot at in April shortly after he supported rezoning for a data center project. The attack on Ron Gibson came days after a 6–2 vote approving the nearly 14-acre facility in the Martindale-Brightwood neighborhood."

Source:
https://www.georgiarecord.com/business-ga/2026/05/11/georgia-data-center-secretly-used-29-million-gallons-of-water-exposed-by-residents-low-water-pressure/

#ResistDatacenters #Datacenters #WaterIsLife #AISucks #DatacentersSuck #EnergyHogs #NoisePollution #WaterConsumption #Secrecy

#Georgia #DataCenter Secretly Used 29 Million Gallons of Water, Exposed by Residents’ Low Water Pressure

By Staff Writer
May 11, 2026

#FayettevilleGA — "A major #datacenter campus in Fayette County, Georgia, drew nearly 30 million gallons of water through unmetered connections before the issue surfaced due to complaints of low water pressure from nearby homeowners, county officials said.

"The discovery, first reported by Politico, centers on the sprawling 615-acre #QTSDataCenter development located about 20 miles south of #Atlanta. #QualityTechnologyServices (QTS), owned by #Blackstone, operates the site, which is one of the largest data center projects in the United States.

"Fayette County investigators found that the campus had been pulling water through two connections the county was unaware of and had not properly billed. As a result, QTS was issued retroactive charges totaling $147,474. County officials estimated the unmetered usage covered roughly four months, while the company maintained the period was between nine and 15 months.

"Vanessa Tigert, director of the Fayette County Water System, attributed the oversight to an administrative error that occurred during the county’s transition to smart meters. [I call BULLSHIT!]

" 'Fayette County is a suburb, it’s mostly residential, and we don’t have much commercial meters in our system anyway,' Tigert said. 'And so we didn’t realize our connection point wasn’t working.'

"A QTS spokesperson confirmed the company paid the retroactive charges immediately upon notification and said the unmetered usage stemmed from the county’s meter system upgrade.

"No fines were issued. County officials emphasized they are maintaining a cooperative relationship with the developer.

"The Fayetteville campus currently includes 13 buildings encompassing approximately 6.2 million square feet. It is part of a larger planned development that could eventually include up to 16 buildings.

"The incident highlights growing tensions nationwide over the resource demands of data centers. Communities across the U.S. have become increasingly vocal about the strain these facilities place on local water supplies and electrical grids, leading to heightened opposition to new projects.

"In a separate but related development, an Indianapolis City-County Council member’s home was shot at in April shortly after he supported rezoning for a data center project. The attack on Ron Gibson came days after a 6–2 vote approving the nearly 14-acre facility in the Martindale-Brightwood neighborhood."

Source:
https://www.georgiarecord.com/business-ga/2026/05/11/georgia-data-center-secretly-used-29-million-gallons-of-water-exposed-by-residents-low-water-pressure/

#ResistDatacenters #Datacenters #WaterIsLife #AISucks #DatacentersSuck #EnergyHogs #NoisePollution #WaterConsumption #Secrecy

#Georgia #DataCenter Secretly Used 29 Million Gallons of Water, Exposed by Residents’ Low Water Pressure

By Staff Writer
May 11, 2026

#FayettevilleGA — "A major #datacenter campus in Fayette County, Georgia, drew nearly 30 million gallons of water through unmetered connections before the issue surfaced due to complaints of low water pressure from nearby homeowners, county officials said.

"The discovery, first reported by Politico, centers on the sprawling 615-acre #QTSDataCenter development located about 20 miles south of #Atlanta. #QualityTechnologyServices (QTS), owned by #Blackstone, operates the site, which is one of the largest data center projects in the United States.

"Fayette County investigators found that the campus had been pulling water through two connections the county was unaware of and had not properly billed. As a result, QTS was issued retroactive charges totaling $147,474. County officials estimated the unmetered usage covered roughly four months, while the company maintained the period was between nine and 15 months.

"Vanessa Tigert, director of the Fayette County Water System, attributed the oversight to an administrative error that occurred during the county’s transition to smart meters. [I call BULLSHIT!]

" 'Fayette County is a suburb, it’s mostly residential, and we don’t have much commercial meters in our system anyway,' Tigert said. 'And so we didn’t realize our connection point wasn’t working.'

"A QTS spokesperson confirmed the company paid the retroactive charges immediately upon notification and said the unmetered usage stemmed from the county’s meter system upgrade.

"No fines were issued. County officials emphasized they are maintaining a cooperative relationship with the developer.

"The Fayetteville campus currently includes 13 buildings encompassing approximately 6.2 million square feet. It is part of a larger planned development that could eventually include up to 16 buildings.

"The incident highlights growing tensions nationwide over the resource demands of data centers. Communities across the U.S. have become increasingly vocal about the strain these facilities place on local water supplies and electrical grids, leading to heightened opposition to new projects.

"In a separate but related development, an Indianapolis City-County Council member’s home was shot at in April shortly after he supported rezoning for a data center project. The attack on Ron Gibson came days after a 6–2 vote approving the nearly 14-acre facility in the Martindale-Brightwood neighborhood."

Source:
https://www.georgiarecord.com/business-ga/2026/05/11/georgia-data-center-secretly-used-29-million-gallons-of-water-exposed-by-residents-low-water-pressure/

#ResistDatacenters #Datacenters #WaterIsLife #AISucks #DatacentersSuck #EnergyHogs #NoisePollution #WaterConsumption #Secrecy

#Georgia #DataCenter Secretly Used 29 Million Gallons of Water, Exposed by Residents’ Low Water Pressure

By Staff Writer
May 11, 2026

#FayettevilleGA — "A major #datacenter campus in Fayette County, Georgia, drew nearly 30 million gallons of water through unmetered connections before the issue surfaced due to complaints of low water pressure from nearby homeowners, county officials said.

"The discovery, first reported by Politico, centers on the sprawling 615-acre #QTSDataCenter development located about 20 miles south of #Atlanta. #QualityTechnologyServices (QTS), owned by #Blackstone, operates the site, which is one of the largest data center projects in the United States.

"Fayette County investigators found that the campus had been pulling water through two connections the county was unaware of and had not properly billed. As a result, QTS was issued retroactive charges totaling $147,474. County officials estimated the unmetered usage covered roughly four months, while the company maintained the period was between nine and 15 months.

"Vanessa Tigert, director of the Fayette County Water System, attributed the oversight to an administrative error that occurred during the county’s transition to smart meters. [I call BULLSHIT!]

" 'Fayette County is a suburb, it’s mostly residential, and we don’t have much commercial meters in our system anyway,' Tigert said. 'And so we didn’t realize our connection point wasn’t working.'

"A QTS spokesperson confirmed the company paid the retroactive charges immediately upon notification and said the unmetered usage stemmed from the county’s meter system upgrade.

"No fines were issued. County officials emphasized they are maintaining a cooperative relationship with the developer.

"The Fayetteville campus currently includes 13 buildings encompassing approximately 6.2 million square feet. It is part of a larger planned development that could eventually include up to 16 buildings.

"The incident highlights growing tensions nationwide over the resource demands of data centers. Communities across the U.S. have become increasingly vocal about the strain these facilities place on local water supplies and electrical grids, leading to heightened opposition to new projects.

"In a separate but related development, an Indianapolis City-County Council member’s home was shot at in April shortly after he supported rezoning for a data center project. The attack on Ron Gibson came days after a 6–2 vote approving the nearly 14-acre facility in the Martindale-Brightwood neighborhood."

Source:
https://www.georgiarecord.com/business-ga/2026/05/11/georgia-data-center-secretly-used-29-million-gallons-of-water-exposed-by-residents-low-water-pressure/

#ResistDatacenters #Datacenters #WaterIsLife #AISucks #DatacentersSuck #EnergyHogs #NoisePollution #WaterConsumption #Secrecy

#KevinOLeary’s Massive #DataCenter Project in #Utah Gets the Greenlight, Locals Are Furious

The project would be more than twice the size of Manhattan and could consume more electricity than the entire state currently uses.

By Bruce Gil
Published May 6, 2026

"The Box Elder County Commission voted on Monday to move forward with a proposed 40,000-acre #AI and #CloudComputing campus in a rural part of northern Utah near the #GreatSaltLake. The site would span more than twice the size of Manhattan.

"The project, backed by O’Leary Digital, the infrastructure arm of O’Leary Ventures, is expected to eventually produce and consume up to 9 gigawatts of power. That’s roughly double the amount of electricity the entire state of Utah currently consumes, according to The Salt Lake Tribune.

"The campus is expected to be built in phases and overseen by Utah’s Military Installation Development Authority (#MIDA). O’Leary proposed a similar project in Canada in 2024 and has referred to both developments as '#WonderValley.' "

[...]

"For his part, O’Leary has claimed, without evidence, that much of the opposition to the project was 'paid' and that the meeting was filled with 'professional protestors.'

" 'We think that over 90% of the protestors are actually not people that live in Utah or Box Elder County. They’re being bussed in,' O’Leary said in a video posted on X.
He also claimed backlash on social media surrounding the project was AI-generated.

"O’Leary Ventures did not immediately respond to a human-issued request for comment from Gizmodo."

Full article:
https://gizmodo.com/kevin-olearys-massive-data-center-project-in-utah-gets-the-greenlight-locals-are-furious-2000755168

Archived version:
https://archive.ph/Q9tF4

#OLearyDigital #OLearyVentures #SharkTank #Datacenters #AIDatacenters #LocalOpposition #NoisePollution #AISucks #MilitaryIndustrialComplex

#KevinOLeary’s Massive #DataCenter Project in #Utah Gets the Greenlight, Locals Are Furious

The project would be more than twice the size of Manhattan and could consume more electricity than the entire state currently uses.

By Bruce Gil
Published May 6, 2026

"The Box Elder County Commission voted on Monday to move forward with a proposed 40,000-acre #AI and #CloudComputing campus in a rural part of northern Utah near the #GreatSaltLake. The site would span more than twice the size of Manhattan.

"The project, backed by O’Leary Digital, the infrastructure arm of O’Leary Ventures, is expected to eventually produce and consume up to 9 gigawatts of power. That’s roughly double the amount of electricity the entire state of Utah currently consumes, according to The Salt Lake Tribune.

"The campus is expected to be built in phases and overseen by Utah’s Military Installation Development Authority (#MIDA). O’Leary proposed a similar project in Canada in 2024 and has referred to both developments as '#WonderValley.' "

[...]

"For his part, O’Leary has claimed, without evidence, that much of the opposition to the project was 'paid' and that the meeting was filled with 'professional protestors.'

" 'We think that over 90% of the protestors are actually not people that live in Utah or Box Elder County. They’re being bussed in,' O’Leary said in a video posted on X.
He also claimed backlash on social media surrounding the project was AI-generated.

"O’Leary Ventures did not immediately respond to a human-issued request for comment from Gizmodo."

Full article:
https://gizmodo.com/kevin-olearys-massive-data-center-project-in-utah-gets-the-greenlight-locals-are-furious-2000755168

Archived version:
https://archive.ph/Q9tF4

#OLearyDigital #OLearyVentures #SharkTank #Datacenters #AIDatacenters #LocalOpposition #NoisePollution #AISucks #MilitaryIndustrialComplex

#overheard

"AI is the internet comment section enfleshed."

No notes.

#TheACCURACY
#truth
#AIsucks
#NoAI