Opinion: Colorado Data Centers Face Scrutiny Over Water Consumption
Peter Moore writes an opinion piece for The Colorado Sun, criticizing the extensive water consumption of data centers in Colorado, particularly a proposed new facility in Denver. He highlights that a single proposed data center could use 805,000 gallons of water daily, a significant concern amidst the state's water scarcity. Moore calls for the community to address this "drinking problem" by rethinking the demand for AI and its environmental toll.
In an opinion piece for The Colorado Sun, Peter Moore criticizes the significant water usage by data centers in Colorado, drawing a parallel to an "addiction" that impacts the state's already strained water supplies. Moore specifically points to a proposed new data center in Denver, estimating its daily water consumption at 805,000 gallons, an amount he claims would take a typical household 4,025 days to consume.
While acknowledging that agricultural uses consume more water, Moore questions the necessity of such high consumption for artificial intelligence, contrasting it with fundamental needs like food. He proposes an adaptation of Alcoholics Anonymous's "Twelve Steps" to encourage the 57 data centers in the state and its 6 million residents to reduce their "appetite for AI" and its associated water demands.
Moore, an editor and writer with a background in journalism, urges Coloradans to consider the environmental implications of their increasing reliance on data-intensive technologies.