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Pro-Data Center Event in Washington, D.C. Disrupted by Protesters Amid Industry Debate
A pro-data center event in Washington, D.C. was disrupted by protesters who raised concerns about water usage and environmental impact, though they were quickly removed. The event organizers discussed the broader public opposition to data centers, including a recent ban on new data centers enacted by Frederick County, Virginia.
A 'Data After Dark' party in Washington, D.C., organized by Jonas Du, Ed Tarnowski, and Casey Given to celebrate data centers, was interrupted by four protesters. The protesters, who were quickly removed, voiced concerns about water usage and environmental destruction, chanting "Thank you for using all of our water!" and shouting expletives at attendees. Bitcoin investor Matt Kita started a "USA" chant to drown them out, reflecting a sentiment among supporters that the debate is a crucial element of the AI race.
The organizers, including Du, expressed that they anticipated disruptions at an event of its size, dismissing the protesters' arguments as "slopulism" that capitalizes on public fears without acknowledging benefits. The event highlighted the contentious public opinion surrounding data centers, with Pew Research and University of Massachusetts Amherst polls indicating significant public opposition to data center construction and environmental impact.
Adding context to the debate, Amy Kremer, chair of Humans First, criticized the D.C. event as an example of "tech grifters" pushing data centers on rural America. She highlighted that Frederick County, Virginia, recently voted 6-1 to ban new data centers countywide, a decision that Du called "cherry-picking" but acknowledged as part of an uphill battle for public support. Despite the challenges, Du indicated plans to bring similar pro-data center events to other cities to counter anti-data center sentiment.