"TikTok's in a data center" | Chris Morris Explains Why They Matter
Chris Morris, who accepted a state data center job, discusses public misconceptions about data centers, particularly regarding water usage, as voiced by his daughter. He advocates for West Virginia to host data centers to leverage the economic benefits and power generation within the state, rather than exporting power to other regions.
Chris Morris, who took a state data center job, recounted how his daughter initially expressed concerns, citing TikTok videos suggesting data centers consume a "gallon of water going down the drain" for every search.
Morris countered by explaining that many everyday digital services, including TikTok, rely on data centers. He emphasized that data centers are essential infrastructure for online banking, streaming, education, and healthcare, noting the immense amount of data generated globally.
He then posed the question of whether West Virginia should host data centers to retain revenue and power within the state, instead of exporting electricity to locations like Northern Virginia which then reap the economic benefits. He stressed that the discussion should focus on where to locate data centers, as their existence is inevitable.