Karen Hao Speaks On Impact of Possible Blackstone Acquisition of PNM

Karen Hao, a journalist and author, visited Santa Fe, New Mexico to speak about the impacts of AI data centers on local communities. Her visit was organized by the progressive organization New Energy Economy, amid a possible acquisition of PNM, the state's electric utility, by the private equity firm Blackstone. Hao acknowledged that data centers can seem appealing to struggling communities for the promised jobs and tax revenue, but argued that these benefits are not sustainable. She explained that the construction jobs are often filled by workers from outside the local area, and the permanent jobs are limited. Hao and Bianca Sopoci-Belknap, a community organizer, also expressed concerns about the environmental toll of data centers, which require large amounts of fresh water for cooling. Sopoci-Belknap warned that a Blackstone takeover of PNM could allow the company to charge ratepayers for the infrastructure costs of building AI data centers, while reaping the profits from AI development. Hao noted that data centers are often built in arid regions like the Southwest U.S. due to factors like cheap land and electricity, despite the water scarcity. Sopoci-Belknap said New Mexico is seen as an opportunity for exploitation by these companies. Hao and Sopoci-Belknap vowed to continue fighting against the Blackstone acquisition and the potential expansion of data centers in New Mexico.