What's fueling the heated data center debate?
The video explores the growing public opposition to data centers, citing concerns about their size, power, and water consumption, using examples from Harrisburg, PA, and Vineland, NJ. A recent poll reveals that 69% of Americans oppose AI data center construction in their local communities, cutting across the political spectrum. This issue has become a significant factor in Pennsylvania's midterm elections, heavily influencing political campaigns and ads.
NBC10's Lena Tillett investigates the reasons behind the escalating debate over data centers, contrasting small-scale operations like Alarifi in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, founded by Andy Kunowski, with massive campuses such as one under construction in Vineland, New Jersey, which is projected to be 2.6 million square feet. The increasing scale of these facilities is a primary concern, as smaller data centers have historically operated without significant controversy.
Electrical engineering professor Benjamin Li from Penn notes that while hundreds of data centers have existed for years, the current worry stems from growing power demand and the pursuit of larger facilities by 'Big Tech.' Investigative reporter David Charns highlights that the primary concerns revolve around high costs and uncertain benefits, particularly regarding the significant water and electricity demands of larger data centers. A Library of Congress report indicated some data centers use an average of 500,000 gallons of water daily, though some facilities are adopting water reuse technologies.
A new NBC News Decision Desk poll reveals widespread public sentiment, with 69% of respondents opposing the construction of an AI data center in their local area. This opposition spans Democrats (81%), independents (71%), and Republicans (57%). Chris Borick, a political science professor at Lehigh University, explains that the issue combines classic 'Not In My Backyard' (NIMBY) dynamics with broader concerns about AI's role and the concentration of wealth among tech billionaires.
The debate has become a central campaign issue in Pennsylvania's midterm elections, with candidates incorporating data center positions into their political ads. Governor Shapiro, for example, has run ads targeting Republican nominee Stacy L. Garrity over her stance on data centers, indicating its potential to sway close races in the state.