Energy panel weighs consequences of developing data centers in Kern County

At an energy conference held at Cal State Bakersfield, a panel of experts weighed the consequences of developing data centers in Kern County. The discussion, moderated by Nate Olson of the Kegley Institute of Ethics, included J. Andrew McAllister from the California Energy Commission, Kate Gordon, CEO of California Forward, CSUB economics professor Aaron Hegde, and Jason Cater, economic and community development manager for the city of Bakersfield. The panelists examined the potential trade-offs, noting that while data centers could generate substantial tax revenue, they also pose risks of straining local water resources and increasing energy costs, without creating a large number of jobs. Despite no data centers being built in the area yet, several projects costing upwards of $100 million each have been proposed in Kern County. These developments are expected to continue, driven by the United States' push for global dominance in artificial intelligence. Further indicating future development, the article mentioned a plan by the U.S. Department of the Air Force to lease space for a private artificial intelligence data center in the county.