Late Night Live - Separate stories podcast Meta’s mega data centres are creating a water crisis in Spain, while Europe faces similar challenges
May 13, 2025
John Boyce, an Irish freelance journalist specializing in water security, highlights the impending crisis in Spain due to water scarcity. He discusses how a massive data center from Meta in Talavera de la Reina could worsen this situation, driven by climate change and outdated infrastructure. The podcast dives into the local grassroots resistance against the project and the broader implications for Europe, where tech companies' demands are overwhelming water resources. Boyce emphasizes the urgent need for sustainable practices and the political tensions surrounding water management.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Meta Exploits Talavera's Vulnerability
- Meta chooses locations like Talavera for data centers due to local economic desperation and incentives.
- Such deals prioritize company benefits often at the expense of local resource sustainability.
Water Risks from Data Centers
- Talavera relies on the Tagus River, heavily dammed and facing severe drought.
- Meta's water demands risk harming farmers and local communities already under strain.
Local Resistance Led by Aurora Gomez
- Aurora Gomez started opposition group after past experience with wasted infrastructure projects.
- Despite being small, they aim to delay Meta's project to possibly halt it.