Data Centers Don’t Have to Be a Burden on Local Communities

An article in Westword addresses the growing concern among consumers, state policymakers, and utility companies regarding data centers' potential to escalate electricity demand and power prices. Engineering research suggests that well-designed and operated data centers can, in fact, benefit their host communities. The article outlines several strategies for data centers to achieve this, including locating power-generating capacity on-site and installing advanced backup battery systems. These batteries could not only power the data center during outages but also supply electricity to the surrounding area during extreme weather or peak usage. Google's planned data center in Minnesota, which will integrate solar panels, wind turbines, and a 300-megawatt iron-air battery storage system, is cited as an example of innovative energy solutions. Furthermore, the piece advocates for the reuse of waste heat generated by data centers. By connecting to "district heating systems" or "thermal microgrids," data centers could become a heat source for nearby buildings, transforming wasted energy into a valuable community resource, as demonstrated by a 75-megawatt data center in Mantsala, Finland, which heats 2,500 homes. Finally, the article discusses advancements in computational efficiency, such as neuromorphic AI and unconventional computing, which promise to drastically reduce energy consumption per unit of computation, leading to more capable and energy-efficient data centers. These combined approaches, including on-site power, battery storage, waste heat reuse, and improved computational efficiency, are presented as pathways to make data centers beneficial for communities and society, supporting energy affordability and resilience. The article notes ongoing community engagement, mentioning Globeville neighbors pushing for a meeting with CoreSite.