Discussion on living near data centers with Crusoe CEO
Charlie Warzel interviews Crusoe CEO Chase Lochmiller about living near data centers. Lochmiller asserts data centers are beneficial, citing economic contributions in Abilene and Armstrong County, Texas, and tax abatements in Columbia County, Georgia, countering public concerns about noise and emissions.
Charlie Warzel, a journalist from The Atlantic, interviewed Chase Lochmiller, CEO and co-founder of the AI-infrastructure company Crusoe, about public perceptions of living near data centers. Lochmiller expressed he would "absolutely" live near a data center, comparing them to warehouses in industrial areas and downplaying concerns about noise during operation, stating most noise occurs during construction. He acknowledged the marketing challenge surrounding public fears about noise, migraines, and emissions.
Lochmiller highlighted the significant economic benefits data centers bring to communities. He cited Crusoe's investment in Abilene, Texas, where the company is set to contribute over a third of the tax revenue for both the city and county. Similarly, in Armstrong County, Texas, Crusoe's investment is catalyzing new energy infrastructure, including wind farms, solar, batteries, and gas, and more than doubling the county's total tax receipts. This allows counties to either enhance services like schools and emergency departments or reduce taxes for residents.
As an example of tax reduction, Lochmiller mentioned Columbia County, Georgia, where Google is building a large data center. There, the substantial property taxes from the data center allowed the county to eliminate property taxes for residents for an estimated 15 years, covering services like police, fire, and roads. Lochmiller's perspective emphasizes the long-term economic and energy infrastructure benefits that data centers can provide, contrasting them with temporary construction disruptions and public apprehension.