Some More News Some More News: Will (And Should) The World Be Covered In Data Centers?
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Jan 21, 2026 The podcast dives into the explosive growth of data centers fueled by AI, highlighting their massive energy consumption and environmental impact. It explores how these centers strain local resources, including water and electricity, while often failing to benefit communities economically. Listeners hear about health risks from noise and pollution and the pushback from communities resisting new projects. The discussion also touches on the questionable promises of economic benefits and the fragility of the AI investment bubble.
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What Data Centers Actually Are
- Data centers are physical warehouses full of servers, heavy cooling systems, and strict security that run the internet 24/7.
- They consume large continuous power and cooling capacity, requiring specialized staff but relatively few employees overall.
Energy Intensity And Grid Dependence
- Data centers draw most energy from local grids and currently rely on fossil fuels for about 60% of their power.
- Backup generators and grid dependence make them both energy-intensive and fragile during outages.
Rising Grid Costs Hit Consumers
- Escalating data center demand is driving up grid capacity costs, like PJM's capacity auction rising over 500%.
- Those higher capacity costs will be passed to consumers through higher electricity bills.