Amazon launches new data center commitments
Amazon announced new commitments intended to build community support for its U.S. data centers. The company will report energy and water use annually and spend more than $1 billion over five years on community college, workforce training and home energy-efficiency programs in data center counties.
Amazon announced a series of commitments aimed at addressing criticism and generating community support for its expanding U.S. data center operations. The company said it will publish annual figures on the facilities' energy and water consumption and invest more than $1 billion over five years in free community college, trades training and home energy-efficiency upgrades in counties hosting data centers.
AWS CEO Matt Garman responded to concerns that data centers consume excessive water, increase electricity costs and contribute to pollution. The announcement comes as technology companies face growing community and political opposition to data center development and offer concessions to address local concerns.