#energywaste — Public Fediverse posts

Even small #Maine towns are weighing #DataCenterBans

by Daniel O'Connor August 17, 2026

"Several small towns across Maine are weighing temporary bans on #DataCenter development as a nationwide backlash against #ArtificialIntelligence and #BigTech continues to grow.

"Larger communities like #BangorME quickly passed moratoriums this spring. Fears of data centers are reaching many smaller towns, with several towns in #OxfordCounty that were unlikely to ever see such projects weighing pauses on hypothetical ones.

"After Gov. #JanetMills vetoed what would have been a first-in-the-nation temporary statewide ban, municipalities are taking steps to regulate development of the centers, which have been springing up nationally and have drawn criticism for their power and water use.

"The Democratic governor’s controversial veto, which came just before she ended a U.S. Senate primary, was largely to protect a #JayME project. But the idea fell through weeks later, with some boosters of the project blaming political resistance. #RuralMaine is now leading that.

"#Datacenters are large warehouses that hold computers necessary for #AI and other software to function. There are relatively few in Maine, and those proposed here so far have been small. But massive data centers in other parts of the country have drawn significant ire for their high water and power usage, which can strain local grids."

Read more:
https://www.bangordailynews.com/2026/08/17/politics/state-politics/small-maine-towns-weighing-data-center-bans-joam40zk0w/

Archived version:
https://archive.ph/77nyE

#MainePol #USPol #DatacenterBans #Datacentres #AIDatacenters #WaterConsumption #WaterIsLife #NoisePollution #LandIsLife #EnergyWaste #EnergyConsumption #BigTech #BigData

Central #Massachusetts city approves 1-year moratorium on #datacenters , battery storage sites

Story by Adam Bass, masslive.com
September 29, 2026

"The #LeominsterMA City Council on Monday approved a one-year moratorium on developing data centers and battery storage sites.

"The council voted 8-0 on both moratoriums, which are now in effect until July 31, 2027. Ward 5 Councilor Carrie Noseworthy was absent from Monday’s meeting.

"Data centers are facilities containing IT infrastructure that process, store and distribute digital data — often used to train and power artificial intelligence tools. Battery storage facilities, meanwhile, are large-scale installations that store electricity and release it when demand for it is high, serving as a backup power source for an electrical grid.

"Throughout Massachusetts, there has been pushback on data centers and battery storage sites from several communities. Some residents and elected officials have expressed concerns about the environmental impacts of large data centers — namely about the amount of water and electricity that they can use.

"Data centers use water to cool their servers and, indirectly, also consume it to generate electricity, according to Bloomberg.

"A 2025 report published by the Environmental and Energy Study Institute, an independent nonprofit organization, found that large data centers can consume 5 million gallons of water per day, equivalent to the water use of a town of 10,000 to 50,000 people."

Source:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/general/central-mass-city-approves-1-year-moratorium-on-data-centers-battery-storage-sites/ar-AA2dcuBA

#DataCenterMoratorium #Datacenters #NoAIDatacenters #ResistDatacenters #Datacentres #WaterConsumption #WaterIsLife #LandIsLife #EnergyWaste

#BangorME City Council votes to extend #DataCenterMoratorium

By WABI News Desk
Published: Sep. 28, 2026

BANGOR, #Maine (WABI) - "The Bangor City Council has unanimously voted to extend a freeze on new #datacenters.

"Councilors voted 8-0 Monday night to add another 180 days to the city’s data center moratorium.

"Officials say Bangor faces growing interest from developers looking to build data centers, which take up large tracts of land and require massive amounts of power and water for cooling.

"Because city ordinances weren’t designed for facilities of this scale, councilors say the extra six months will give them time to draft zoning rules that protect local infrastructure, the environment, and neighboring property owners."

Source:
https://www.wabi.tv/2026/09/29/bangor-city-council-votes-extend-data-center-moratorium/

#MainePol #NoDatacenters #NoisePollution #WaterIsLife #WaterConsumption #EnergyWaste #LandIsLife #Datacentres

#SalemMA City Council Moves To Ban #DataCenters, Gas-Powered #LeafBlowers

The ban on data centers moves back to committee ahead of a second vote for full passage.

by Scott Souza, Posted Fri, Sep 25, 2026

"For centuries, Salem has borne the brunt of an industrial legacy handed down from generation to generation. Tanneries and grease works. Coal power plants and sewage treatment facilities. Gas tanks and switchyards. I do not believe we should volunteer ourselves or the generations of Salem residents who will follow us to continue that legacy."

Read more:
https://patch.com/massachusetts/salem/salem-city-council-moves-ban-data-centers-gas-powered-leaf-blowers

#Massachusetts #MassPol #DatacenterBan #NoDatacenters #NoisePollution #EnergyWaste

#SalemOR pauses #DataCenter projects for 4 months

Sep. 22, 2026 at 11:35 AM EDT

SALEM Ore. (KPTV) - "The Salem City Council voted during a public hearing Monday night to approve a four-month moratorium on the development and construction of #datacenters across the city.

"The temporary ban remains in effect until Jan. 19, during which the city cannot approve any data center applications regardless of their size, capacity or intended purpose. Councilors plan to reexamine the issue and consider whether to extend the freeze in January.

"Salem joins a growing list of #Oregon communities pressing pause on the facilities, following similar temporary bans enacted in #Hillsboro and #Woodburn. Gov. Tina Kotek has also directed state agencies to hold off on unapproved requests for new data centers on state-owned land until next year.

"A recent statewide assessment conducted by economic consulting firm ECONorthwest and the University of Virginia, funded by The Lemelson Foundation identified 111 operational data centers across Oregon, which consumed more than 14 terawatt-hours of electricity last year. That total equals about 71% of all electricity sold to Oregon households combined. Power usage by the sector has nearly quadrupled since 2020 and could account for approximately one-third of the state’s entire electricity demand by 2030."

Read more:
https://www.kptv.com/2026/09/22/salem-pauses-data-center-projects-4-months/

#NoDatacenters #OregonPol #NoisePollution #EnergyWaste #WaterIsLife

#GorhamME officials consider permanent ban on #Datacenters

Several cities and towns in Maine already have moratoriums on data centers, and others are looking to do the same.

by WGME Staff, Fri, September 4, 2026

GORHAM (WGME) -- "The Town of Gorham is considering a permanent ban on data centers.

"The town already passed a moratorium in June, temporarily banning them.

"On Tuesday, town councilors voted unanimously to have the planning board schedule a public hearing and find out if the ban should become permanent.

"Before the ban could go into effect, the planning board will need to vote to change the town's land use and development code."

Read more:
https://wgme.com/news/local/gorham-officials-consider-permanent-ban-on-data-centers-maine-economy

#MainePol #DatacenterMoratorium #DatacenterMoratoriums #Datacentres #DatacentreMoratorium #Hyperscale #Hyperconsumption #AIDatacenters #NoisePollution #LightPollution #WaterIsLife #EnergyWaste

#EPA proposal could leave the public in the dark on #datacenter plans

By MATTHEW DALY
Updated 1:37 PM EDT, September 3, 2026

WASHINGTON (AP) — "A plan by the Environmental Protection Agency could make it harder for the public to learn about and comment on proposed AI data centers that have sparked backlash in communities across the United States and transformed the midterm election landscape.

"The EPA proposal would eliminate a federal requirement that states notify the public and seek comment before issuing #AirPollution permits for data centers and other #IndustrialFacilities. States could still offer opportunities for public comment, but the EPA would no longer mandate them as a condition for states to grant permits.

"Critics say the move could thwart local residents from learning about proposed data centers or making their voices heard before projects are approved and construction begins. The move comes during a widespread backlash as #TechGiants build hundreds of massive #ServerWarehouses to fuel #ArtificialIntelligence and #CloudComputing.

" 'By eliminating the long-standing federal requirement for public notice, this proposal continues efforts by the Trump administration to turn its back on the fundamental EPA principle of transparency,' said Mike Koerber, a former deputy director of EPA’s air quality office.

"If made final, the plan could create 'an unlevel playing field where citizens in one state are kept completely in the dark about new data centers and heavy industrial emissions in their backyards, while neighboring states maintain oversight,' he said.

"Under the EPA plan, states with weak or no requirements for #PublicComment could speed permits for data centers, #PowerPlants and other #PollutionSources without consulting the public or even informing communities where the facilities are located, Koerber and other critics said."

Read more:
https://apnews.com/article/epa-data-centers-ai-public-comment-states-947eb927ae81162ad4cc3e828915c804

#USPol #EPAFail #NoDatacenters #NoAIDatacenters #NoisePollution #LightPollution #WaterIsLife #EnergyWaste #CorporateGreed #CorporateColonialism #DatacenterMoratoriums #Datacentres #Hyperscale #PhysicalMedia #NoPublicComment #SneakyTechGiants #AI

https://www.europesays.com/ie/237059/ New MIT Chip Design Slashes Energy Waste and Boosts AI Speed #AI #AIEnergyConsumption #ArtificialIntelligence #ArtificialIntelligence #ComputerChips #Éire #EnergyEfficiency #EnergyWaste #IE #Ireland #LargeLanguageModels #microelectronics #MITResearch #NetZero2050 #SemiconductorTechnology #SustainableAI #Technology

What Americans think about the #Environmental impact of #AI, according to a new poll

By JENNIFER McDERMOTT and LINLEY SANDERS
Updated 7:02 AM EDT, October 23, 2025

WASHINGTON (AP) — "As the United States rapidly builds massive #DataCenters for the development of artificial intelligence, many Americans are concerned about the environmental impact.

"Worries about how AI will affect the environment surpass concerns about other industries that worsen #ClimateChange, according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research and the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago.

"The results of the poll, conducted in September, suggest that as AI reshapes work, communication and culture, it’s also sparking anxieties about how the growing energy demands could further harm the environment.

"It takes massive amounts of electricity to power AI. Electricity consumption from data centers is set to more than double globally by 2030, according to the International Energy Agency. The United States accounts for by far the largest share of the projected increase, followed by China. In many places, the electricity for data centers will come from power plants that burn #coal, #oil and #NaturalGas. Burning these #FossilFuels for electricity emits carbon dioxide, trapping heat in the atmosphere and warming the planet."

Read more:
https://apnews.com/article/artificial-intelligence-data-centers-poll-climate-change-c9f95aa014254ef454b763ccfb32de39

#BigData #BigEnergyUsage #LLM #ChaptGPT #AIDataCenters
#WaterIsLife #NoisePollution
#FossilFuels #EnergyWaste
#NoNukesForAI #NoNukesForDatacenters

I wish every AI activity had compulsory information along these lines attached:
This request required this much energy to be completed. Plus monthly reports for every account.

We know the CO2 equivalent of our travels, this should be much easier to do

#datacenters #ai #energyWaste

Ummmm... Not everyone!

"Altman's statement reflects optimism about the usefulness of future AI systems, but despite warnings of an AI bubble and criticism of the underlying technology, there is still actual unmet demand for generative AI capacity today. ChatGPT serves 700 million weekly active users, more than double the US population, who regularly use the AI assistant to develop software, provide personal advice, and compose or edit correspondence and reports. While the outputs may be imperfect at times, people apparently still want them."


Why does #OpenAI need six giant data centers?

OpenAI's new $400 billion announcement reveals both growing AI demand and circular investments.

Benj Edwards – Sep 24, 2025

[How many of these places are low on water resources? Quite a few!!!] "The five new sites will include three locations developed through an OpenAI and #Oracle partnership: #ShackelfordCounty, #Texas; #DoñaAnaCounty, #NewMexico; and an unspecified #Midwest location. These sites, along with a 600-megawatt expansion near the flagship #Stargate site in #AbileneTx, can deliver over 5.5 gigawatts of capacity, which means the computers on site will be able to draw up to 5.5 billion watts of electricity when running at full load. The companies expect the sites to create over 25,000 onsite jobs.

"Two of the sites will be developed through a partnership between SoftBank and OpenAI. One site in #LordstownOH, where #SoftBank has broken ground, is on track to be operational next year. The second site in #MilamCounty, #Texas, will be developed with #SBEnergy, a SoftBank Group company. These two sites may scale to 1.5 gigawatts over the next 18 months.

"The new sites will join the flagship Stargate campus in Abilene, Texas. Oracle began delivering #Nvidia hardware to that site in June, and OpenAI has already begun training (building new models) and inference (running #ChatGPT) using the data center."

Read more:
https://arstechnica.com/ai/2025/09/why-does-openai-need-six-giant-data-centers/

#AIDataCenters #WaterIsLife #NoisePollution #FossilFuels #EnergyWaste #NoNukesForAI #NoNukesForDatacenters #AISucks #UseYourBrain #ThinkForYourself

I have asked #GPT-4.0 to translate a news report from Dutch to German for me because I wanted to inform my family about current debates in the Netherlands. I was surprised that #ChatGPT started a #deepsearch although I had not actively selected this feature. I had vaguely heard about it but never used it before, and I am still wondering what it actually does. I will have to #readthedocs for sure! But has anyone got insights they'd like to share? Deep search sounds a lot like #energywaste to me.

How HVAC Home Audits Help You Maximize Comfort and Minimize Energy Waste

https://www.reachingworld.live/how-hvac-home-audits-help-you-maximize-comfort-and-minimize-energy-waste/

#AirConditioning #EnergyWaste #Heating #HomeAudits #HVAC #Ventilation

So who could guess that the power consumption of LLM querying is largely because it assaults all we have ever learned about delivering content at internet scale.

Since all that LLMs are are overcomplicated ways to deliver content that already exists with low quality (in terms of accuracy and often relevance).

At the same time web search has also degraded mostly because of the removal of query parameters as well as the polluting of content.

#LLM #EnergyWaste #HumanFutility #AI

It’s 25 °C right now, and the assholes neighbors have the A/C on 🤬

Electricity should cost way, way more.

#ClimateChange #EnergyWaste #EnergyWasting

The new boiler in this house I’m visiting still has the temperature set at 74 degrees. I’ve already told them months ago that they’re wasting money. Should I tell them again? #spidersense #energywaste

Cryptocurrency Ethereum has slashed its energy use by 99.99 per cent - great news, but a shame they think it’s unlikely the others will follow suit. Perhaps legislation should make them?
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2369304-cryptocurrency-ethereum-has-slashed-its-energy-use-by-99-99-per-cent/
#sustainability #energywaste

#EnergyWaste sometimes just stares you in the face. The temperature on our @UCLChemistry lift landings is typically 23-25 ˚C year round. And it never occurred to me before to look at the light fittings. 8 fittings each with a pair of 55 W mercury fluorescent bulbs. Because they aren't switched they cost us £2500 a year and generate 1800 kg of CO2 a year. All this to light a space that people simply cross… #nuts It would cost £250 to replace them with 12 W LEDs that would last >10 years… 

This sort of thing really annoys me. Nearly 2kW of wasted energy. "Perfect for a chilly night," says #Aldi's marketing blurb. If it's a chilly night outside, go inside, you stupid fucks.

#SpaceHeaters #EnergyWaste #ClimateCrisis #CostOfLivingCrisis

Funny thing: only yesterday while listening to the fan in my laptop spin up on the ad-loaded site electrek.com (ironic!) I wondered to myself, "what's the kWh hit of all this advertising frenzy, at scale?"

Well, one day later up pops an answer.

Sadly because of Yet Another Business Plan this article is #NotOpenAccess but some hints are in the abstract, for those who can take the work on faith alone.

It's a lot of juice.

#EnergyWaste
#ExternalCosts
#ClimateChange

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jiec.13376?af=R

This is fine:

https://ccaf.io/cbeci/ghg/index

#bitcoin #CO2emissions #energywaste

Americans will kill this planet in the name of not shoveling snow during the winter 🙃

#environment #energywaste

Bitcoin Miners Are The Dung Beetles Of The Energy Sector

https://bitcoinmagazine.com/business/bitcoin-miners-are-dung-beetles-of-energy

#energywaste #Renewables #Business #Opinion #E-waste #Energy #Mining

Bitcoin Is A Green Energy Battery For Wasted Electricity

https://bitcoinmagazine.com/culture/bitcoin-is-a-green-energy-battery

#Greenenergy #electricity #energywaste #Culture #Opinion #Energy

Who Says Bitcoin Mining Needs To Be Profitable?

https://bitcoinmagazine.com/business/bitcoin-mining-doesnt-need-to-make-money

#BitcoinMiningProfitability #energyconsumption #energywaste #Business #Opinion #Mining

Mining Bitcoin With Human Waste: The Orange Future Of Wastewater Treatment

https://bitcoinmagazine.com/business/using-poop-and-biogas-to-mine-bitcoin

#energyconsumption #Bitcoinmining #energywaste #Wastewater #Guatemala #Business #Feature

I used to scorn tech solutions to energy issues.
https://invidio.us/JKXnQnaiqI8
Good ideas to harness energy efficiently and non-polluting.

#pollution #solution #energywaste #graphene #climate

There is one blockchain that is not wasting energy by securing the cryptocurrencies through cooperation instead of competition. Intended for shifting society towards a cooperative, ecological economy: The 5 year old FairCoin https://fair.coop/en/blog/happy-green-bday-faircoin #bitcoin #energywaste #faircoin

There is one blockchain that is not wasting energy by securing the cryptocurrencies through cooperation instead of competition. And it's intended use, too, is for shifting society towards a cooperative, ecological economy, which preserves the environment: The 5 year old FairCoin https://fair.coop/en/blog/happy-green-bday-faircoin #bitcoin #energywaste #PoC #faircoin