A few weeks ago, I was having a politics conversation with a tech insider. The issue of datacenters became a focus of the conversation. The first response from him was “this is the issue that might decide 2026 and will certainly decide 2028.”
The tech side of the issue is essentially: As 5G wifi was to mobile connectivity, so too are the datacenters the cornerstone of nationwide AI rollout. Eventually, all of the datacenters will interconnect and become part of a massive information system that houses all knowledge, a great digital brain. From that point, engagement with Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems will become like a public utility.
The datacenters themselves can be a hot button issue as their proximity to people creates friction. Battles against datacenters are taking place in rural and non-rural areas alike. With deep pockets and strong national security arguments involving the “AI race,” the technocrats are currently winning the argument. However, as with all special interest issues, the opportunity for political benefit now determines DC advocacy. WATCH:
What are your thoughts on this issue?
Is opposition to datacenters strong enough to tilt the outcome of the 2026 midterms? And do you believe 2028 will be determined with this issue at the forefront?
First water for cooling.
There are three ways to cool the data centers. The cheapest uses a lot of water. It works somewhat like a swamp cooler in the SouthWest areas. The most expensive is air conditioning which doesn’t use much water but consumes more power.
When the desire is to put one in a business park where the goal was a company employing 1,000 people…..the local area loses big time.
Independent dedicated power production should be a mandatory part of the site plan.
If it is a choice between production ie factories or a data center the factory is much better for a locality.
What does Besset say?
A major concern is AI data centers are heavily indebted……….if they can’t pay then it will effect everyone in the USA.
Treat them just like prisons. Build them out of the way and as unnoticeable as possible. There were and are communities that welcomed prisons for the jobs and opportunities. The same can be true for data centers.
The problem with that idea is they are being built right in the dead center of every business park in Suburban America. They are even using eminent domain in some instances.
The major issue is two fold. Energy consumption, and how we stop them from using them from controlling us.
As of now we can’t win either battle. But in my view if we don’t give PDJT full support for his entire term then we deserve the hell we are bringing upon ourselves.
Battling that stuff now or in 2 years is moot. This is our last chance for a champion to save the republic. Vote against it and IMO, you’re signing your own death warrant.
I believe the issue crosses the political spectrum.
The major issue surrounding Data Centers with be utility rate increases passed on to the consumer and water issues. Data Centers use a ton of water and can quickly impact water table and cause unnatural migration as a result of scarcity. It will be interesting times.
“Eventually, all of the datacenters will interconnect and become part of a massive information system that houses all knowledge, a great digital
brain.fence…. a cage from which none will escape without the full force of government pursuing the non-compliant relentlessly.”FIFY
But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, even to the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.”
Eventually Data Centers will be constructed on the Dark Side of the Moon 😎
One consideration is can we not innovate more to jump ahead of the need for data centers to operate the best AI in the world?
Consider the sunk cost of phone lines everywhere in USA plus cell towers vs the cost of a nation that only has cell towers. In this example it would have been the less developed nation that adopted technology later that is currently able to operate most efficiently with the lowest sunk cost.
GREENLAND! Using pocket nuke local power generation and Mother Nature’s abundant heat transfer opportunities, the groundwater contamination issues could be isolated far away from agricultural and human needs….! 🙂
I read/try to read some book every day or nearly every day. I read any type from several on Apostle Paul and his travels to John D MacDonald to 6 Days of the Condor (book before the movie I recently found) to Thunder on the Mountain (1965, sermons of T Cecil Myers). I read non fiction. Nothing (or very few) published in the 2000s.
Recently finished a book on Crossnore school in NC mountains (Miracle in the Hills) founded by Dr Mary Martin Sloop.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_T._Martin_Sloop
Try and read something every day.
Some places do not have this issue, like Connecticut for example. No new Data Centers planned.
Regional issue, could have an affect in certain parts of the country but not all.
To the faithful followers of Sundance:
I am not sure where I fall in this particular discussion.
But be aware there have been multiple reports of late that much of the anti-datacenter commentary on the internet comes to us courtesy of the Chinese. They view development and control of AI to be a paramount concern for their nation, and seek to ensure we do not win this particular race.
Their disinformation goal is to delay implementation of datacenter construction in the U.S. long enough to allow them to achieve a substantial edge of us on this issue and eventually be the global master of AI.
This is a long way of saying: beware of negative reporting on this matter, as it may stem from those who do not have America’s best interests at heart.
Best to all of you as we head into June.
Propaganda from the AI industry.
The opposition to data centers is very organic.
Why do we need more data centers if there are already 4300 of them?
Can’t they upgrade them for better performance?
Our big power problem is anti-growth green stupidity. Not as bad as Germany, but still bad.
It just makes no sense to make them into water hogs. Unnecessary costs.
But the pro side was caught flat footed by the anti side scaring people with all these fears.
And all these fears are highly doubtful.
Like all this green crap has been jacking up electricity prices and prohibiting growth in capacity. Awful convenient to blame that on datacenters. Letting all the evil politicians off the hook.
And the Antis are clearly poisoning the well. Soon nobody will believe anything from the pro side.
But the anti side has already demonstrated itself to be a foreign funded campaign.
What a pain!
Datacenters is the same old NIMBY argument that has been going on forever.
God is in control. It is already written. Allow Jesus Christ into your heart.
Data center builders should be required to pay for whatever infrastructure expansion is necessary for their operation. They should not be allowed to socialize the costs and privatize the profits.
Let me tell you about my granddaughter.
She’s 18 years old, and just graduated high school. She’s smart and talented. She wants to be a cosmetologist, doing hair and nails, partly because she knows AI is going to be a factor in lots of jobs, but probably not that one.
She and her friends HATE AI. Hate it. She was angry when teachers asked students to use it for assignments. She thinks it is making people dumber. She is concerned about the data centers and their water and power usage.
AI is a loser with young voters. That much I believe.
It’s the people who control them I don’t trust. Who’s bidding will they do?
We’re getting a data center right near us, we’re not happy
Everybody Stop, Think, and take a deep Breath.
There sure is all of a sudden a lot of well financed opposition with fancy well printed placards and signs, and already rehearsed slogan etc.
Sounds just like a few years ago when the Global Warmist all organized and worked on getting our power plants shut down, and transitioned into Solar/wind.
Turns out when a lost of the money was traced back, all of the global warming research, the protests, the lawfair, each was being funded by who? The Chinese Communist Party.
Why?
To Cripple our industrial base and to sell us all of their Solar and wind equipment.
FJB was instrumental in Shutting Down 100 Gigawatts of generating capacity in the US in his four years, using the RCRA operating permit process. What most people do not realize is the FJB regime only permitted the construction of 25 Gigawatts of Sola/Wind new capacity. This has left a big hole in our power production capacity, just as AI is showing up.
How about that?
Do we all see why our power bills are so high now?
So who do you think wants to win the AI race? They just about did us in on the power front.
Interesting how this already fully staffed and opposition with professionally painted signs and brochures appears to stop data center, just when the battle over global warming has been won, but look at all the damage done to the power infrastructure in the meantime.
Is it not readily apparent what is happing here?
Can we not put 3+1 together, seeing as we have already got a 2+2 example looking us right in the face?
Data centers will likely become obsolete fairly quickly, as always happens with technology. I do not know how AI will operate a few years from now, but it will be different.