Data Center Signal is tracking 12 clips about Intel data center developments across 8 states, including OH, CA, CO, DC, DE.
Forbes reporter Kyle Khan-Mullins discussed partisan differences over the rapid expansion of data centers and lawmakers' investments in related companies. Republicans generally emphasize jobs, economic growth and artificial intelligence, while Democrats more often call for transparency, local input, and regulation of water and electricity consumption.
Bloom Energy, a fuel cell manufacturer, has experienced a significant financial turnaround and joined the S&P 500, largely due to increased demand for its off-grid power plants from AI data centers. Its main manufacturing plant in Newark, Delaware, has become profitable, leading to a production backlog and new hires. The company provides power solutions to major tech firms and data centers, enabling them to operate independently of the strained electric grid.
Santa Clara is actively expanding its data center infrastructure and power grid, while San Francisco supervisors are proposing a 45-day moratorium on new data centers due to environmental concerns and community impact. The article highlights the differing approaches of the two cities and discusses electricity costs, water usage, and community benefits/complaints related to data centers.
An opinion piece criticizes former Sen. Sherrod Brown for hypocrisy, arguing he previously supported data center expansion and the Intel semiconductor plant in New Albany, which consumes significant electricity, despite now criticizing data centers for rising utility costs. The author questions why Brown didn't address data center growth while in office. The article also includes unrelated political commentary about the upcoming midterm elections.
IBEW Local 48 in Portland, Oregon, is advocating for data center development to create jobs for its members, despite growing public opposition and proposed moratoriums in cities like Hillsboro and Salem. This stance puts the union at odds with some local politicians and progressive groups. Many electricians are relocating to other states like Idaho for work on large projects, intensifying the union's efforts to secure local data center jobs.
Data center development in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana is raising environmental concerns, particularly regarding electricity demand and water usage. Experts emphasize that impacts depend on specific project details and siting, while local communities voice anxieties over potential health and ecological effects. Regional studies are underway to assess water resource vulnerability in areas experiencing high data center growth.
Data center growth in Johnstown, Ohio, particularly by Cologix and Intel, is significantly impacting the local housing market. Home prices have increased, and a homeowner living near construction is struggling to find an affordable comparable residence if she were to sell.
The AI race will be decided by control over physical infrastructure like chips, power, and manufacturing capacity, rather than just software advancements. The US is significantly investing in domestic semiconductor production, with TSMC and Intel expanding facilities in Arizona. This shift also highlights the increasing strain on electricity grids due to rising data center demand.
The Columbus Dispatch successfully obtained data on data center water usage in central Ohio, revealing that 3% of the city's water, or 1.26 billion gallons, was consumed by data centers in the past year. This comes amid public concerns and calls for greater transparency regarding data center operations and tax incentives. Lawmakers recently reversed a state law (House Bill 184) that had restricted public access to economic development information.
Elon Musk has unveiled detailed plans for SpaceX's orbital AI data centers, which will feature extensive solar panels and liquid radiators. A new "Gigasat" facility in Bastrop, Texas, is under construction to manufacture the enormous solar arrays for these satellites. SpaceX aims to launch up to one million of these orbital data centers, citing an abundance of solar energy and the ability to avoid terrestrial community opposition as key benefits.
Ohio officials approved a $42.3 million tax exemption for two Cologix data center projects in Delaware and Licking counties, days before Governor Mike DeWine announced a pause on new data center tax exemptions statewide. The pause, enacted by the Ohio Tax Credit Authority, comes amidst growing scrutiny over the high cost of these tax breaks and the environmental and electrical grid impacts of data centers. A special legislative committee is holding hearings on the issue.
Neighbors in Southern Colorado are expressing concerns over a proposed data center by RAIDEN on Garden of the Gods Road. The company is seeking city approval for the facility, which would occupy a former Intel plant and require significant power, but claims it will use a closed-loop cooling system to minimize water usage and save the city money. Residents worry about potential impacts on water and electricity bills and noise levels.