The Indicator from Planet Money What $10 billion in data centers actually gets you
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Apr 2, 2025 A $10 billion investment in data centers could revolutionize a community, but the reality is stark: they create few permanent jobs. Discover the paradox of massive tech investments yielding limited employment opportunities while potentially fostering high-tech growth. Explore how places like Northern Virginia thrive with data centers spurring local economies and attracting innovative companies. Delve into the complexities of energy consumption and the long-term benefits that such projects might bring to communities.
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Meridian's Big Break
- Meridian, Mississippi, anticipates a $10 billion data center project.
- This investment is tied for the largest in state history, alongside another data center.
Data Center Job Creation
- Despite large investments, data centers create few permanent jobs.
- Apple's $1 billion data center in North Carolina created less than 100 permanent jobs.
Hardware vs. Software Investment
- Data centers are hardware-heavy, leading to high investment costs but low job creation.
- A software company could generate comparable jobs with significantly less investment.