100%, John. I've never seen anything like it. We know that the current administration has overtly supported data centers, framing it as a competition with China. I recently saw a TV ad when I was only half-watching; it seemed to imply that hyperscale data centers now are our patriotic duty! Thank you.
I believe it’s so our government will have instant access to all our personal information via facial recognition. Those States that ignorantly sent their population’s personal information to Washington violated every citizen’s right to privacy. The Heritage Foundation will know how we vote and can easily ruin our lives. Yeah, I read 1984 over 50 years ago and could see them how it could happen. And here we are…
Thanks, Dean. Great observation! Yes, Iowa has turned our info over, yet I've seen that not all Republican-led states did not. Elections are the responsibility of the state, not Federal government. I do think this rejection of data centers is linked to our justifiable concerns about the invasion of our personal data.
Cheryl — what strikes me is that we never had the debate. Nobody voted-few campaign- on AI reshaping work and truth, or on phones rewiring kids' attention — no Congress, no legislature, no ballot measure (some candidates do talk of tech billionaires and Trump grift). Ames' proposal was a cold call, by a DSM company, owner by an equity firm. It just arrived in Ames, decided by a DSM company but a company owned by an equity company; fairly or not, it is a surrogate for all those other tech and investment billionaires accumulating control over the shape of the future, while the rest of us have no lever to pull except the ones close to home. That's why data fights like it keep landing at the town hall instead of Washington — it's the only place the decision still feels reachable. Sunday's Register letters and the NYT's coverage confirm it's everywhere. More here: "When the Future Arrives Before the Questions Are Answered" and "Before the Data Center Arrives: Questions"
Ralph, thanks for amplifying this issue. It seems to be an assault on ordinary people who are pursing their business of work and love of family by those who only worship at the altar of unfettered capitalism. You are right about how this battle is landing at the local level; people still feel they have a fighting chance of making a difference.
Even Classical economists like Adam Smith, David Ricardo, and John Stuart Mill understood that unfettered markets carry built-in seeds of self-destruction. Left unchecked, business interests naturally conspire to form monopolies, capture government regulation, and depress worker wages to low levels. Monopolized wealth creates vast inequality. To survive and serve the public good, market competition requires solid ground rules: state-funded public education, strong labor protections, and active oversight to prevent corporate capture. I think Iowans know that the tech Giants violate all three of those ground rules.
Dead on right. My son and his girlfriend found out about the proposed center at Fisk University in Nashville (about a block from their apartment) via Instagram.
Wow! I realize transparency is an inconvenience, but we have to demand this from our local officials, state legislators, and beyond! This is not any way to conduct business! Thanks.
I started more closely following the issue of data centers, and how the mad rush seems to overtake cities and counties unprepared because their zoning ordinances have giant loopholes in them. There is an absolutely predatory aspect to how fast some of these companies are getting building permits. My son who has a degree in Environmental Sustainability and who lives in Nashville about a half a block or so away from Fisk University, has been actively voicing opposition in public hearings down there where both Fisk and the Nashville zoo area have two proposed data centers. I watched a public hearing regarding the data centers and ordinance language. Public comment of two minutes each per person on a second reading lasted well beyond 1:30 in the morning. People are livid. They’re disgusted and they are afraid. Very afraid. And as is the case, Iowa is about three steps behind everyone else in waking the hell up to what’s going on. The impact on the power grid will be horrendous. Water, air quality, noise pollution that impacts mental health, rising utilities costs, personal property devaluation….for what? Be very wary of promises about jobs and tax cuts. Take a long view. Unsuspecting citizens are being duped and bribed. Your local politicians barely know anything about the environmental and health consequences of data centers. What they better know is if they want a political career, as many aspire to, they better vote with the people or the people will vote them out with a vengeance.
Absolutely, Marcy! Thanks for adding your real-world experiences via your son's activism. We're being driving by the tyranny of what seems to be "the urgent" race against China. I've seen a TV ad suggesting that it's our patriotic duty to accept this incursion in our communities and states.
I think it was only a matter of time that we get that slant. I’ve not seen that commercial yet. The multiple issues of data centers seem to have united people on pretty much every spectrum of politics. It was only a matter of time that this “you are being anti-American “and “we must defeat the Red hordes” PR blitz would happen. I just hope people don’t succumb to that. We already have enough existential battles on our hands right now.
Atlantic has an interesting article just out: “Generative AI is an Engineering Disaster “…..exploring all the inefficiencies which are causing this insane drive to build data centers.
The unnerving thing about data centers, aside from the issues you raise, is the speed with which they are appearing.
I can't shake the suspicion that some sort of plan is behind this, and a deadline.
If that sounds paranoid, I would respond that even paranoids have real enemies.
I'm only half joking.
100%, John. I've never seen anything like it. We know that the current administration has overtly supported data centers, framing it as a competition with China. I recently saw a TV ad when I was only half-watching; it seemed to imply that hyperscale data centers now are our patriotic duty! Thank you.
I saw a post on X where a Russian expert said AI was a bubble driven by Saudi money and that it's going to burst, like bubbles do.
Ah, interesting! Saudi money ––could well be true! Thank you.
I believe it’s so our government will have instant access to all our personal information via facial recognition. Those States that ignorantly sent their population’s personal information to Washington violated every citizen’s right to privacy. The Heritage Foundation will know how we vote and can easily ruin our lives. Yeah, I read 1984 over 50 years ago and could see them how it could happen. And here we are…
Thanks, Dean. Great observation! Yes, Iowa has turned our info over, yet I've seen that not all Republican-led states did not. Elections are the responsibility of the state, not Federal government. I do think this rejection of data centers is linked to our justifiable concerns about the invasion of our personal data.
Cheryl — what strikes me is that we never had the debate. Nobody voted-few campaign- on AI reshaping work and truth, or on phones rewiring kids' attention — no Congress, no legislature, no ballot measure (some candidates do talk of tech billionaires and Trump grift). Ames' proposal was a cold call, by a DSM company, owner by an equity firm. It just arrived in Ames, decided by a DSM company but a company owned by an equity company; fairly or not, it is a surrogate for all those other tech and investment billionaires accumulating control over the shape of the future, while the rest of us have no lever to pull except the ones close to home. That's why data fights like it keep landing at the town hall instead of Washington — it's the only place the decision still feels reachable. Sunday's Register letters and the NYT's coverage confirm it's everywhere. More here: "When the Future Arrives Before the Questions Are Answered" and "Before the Data Center Arrives: Questions"
Ralph, thanks for amplifying this issue. It seems to be an assault on ordinary people who are pursing their business of work and love of family by those who only worship at the altar of unfettered capitalism. You are right about how this battle is landing at the local level; people still feel they have a fighting chance of making a difference.
Even Classical economists like Adam Smith, David Ricardo, and John Stuart Mill understood that unfettered markets carry built-in seeds of self-destruction. Left unchecked, business interests naturally conspire to form monopolies, capture government regulation, and depress worker wages to low levels. Monopolized wealth creates vast inequality. To survive and serve the public good, market competition requires solid ground rules: state-funded public education, strong labor protections, and active oversight to prevent corporate capture. I think Iowans know that the tech Giants violate all three of those ground rules.
You've nailed it, Ralph. Thanks!
Dead on right. My son and his girlfriend found out about the proposed center at Fisk University in Nashville (about a block from their apartment) via Instagram.
Wow! I realize transparency is an inconvenience, but we have to demand this from our local officials, state legislators, and beyond! This is not any way to conduct business! Thanks.
I started more closely following the issue of data centers, and how the mad rush seems to overtake cities and counties unprepared because their zoning ordinances have giant loopholes in them. There is an absolutely predatory aspect to how fast some of these companies are getting building permits. My son who has a degree in Environmental Sustainability and who lives in Nashville about a half a block or so away from Fisk University, has been actively voicing opposition in public hearings down there where both Fisk and the Nashville zoo area have two proposed data centers. I watched a public hearing regarding the data centers and ordinance language. Public comment of two minutes each per person on a second reading lasted well beyond 1:30 in the morning. People are livid. They’re disgusted and they are afraid. Very afraid. And as is the case, Iowa is about three steps behind everyone else in waking the hell up to what’s going on. The impact on the power grid will be horrendous. Water, air quality, noise pollution that impacts mental health, rising utilities costs, personal property devaluation….for what? Be very wary of promises about jobs and tax cuts. Take a long view. Unsuspecting citizens are being duped and bribed. Your local politicians barely know anything about the environmental and health consequences of data centers. What they better know is if they want a political career, as many aspire to, they better vote with the people or the people will vote them out with a vengeance.
100%, Marcy! Thanks!
Absolutely, Marcy! Thanks for adding your real-world experiences via your son's activism. We're being driving by the tyranny of what seems to be "the urgent" race against China. I've seen a TV ad suggesting that it's our patriotic duty to accept this incursion in our communities and states.
I think it was only a matter of time that we get that slant. I’ve not seen that commercial yet. The multiple issues of data centers seem to have united people on pretty much every spectrum of politics. It was only a matter of time that this “you are being anti-American “and “we must defeat the Red hordes” PR blitz would happen. I just hope people don’t succumb to that. We already have enough existential battles on our hands right now.
Thank you for your excellent reporting.
You're welcome, Denise!
“Money can’t buy me love”? Or is a it, a sped up life style can’t buy me time? How about, Bigger can’t buy me quality?
All of the above! But the first one definitely rings true! Thanks!
Nailed it!!!! Bravo and thank you!
Thank you, Deb, and thanks for your updates on this issue!
Atlantic has an interesting article just out: “Generative AI is an Engineering Disaster “…..exploring all the inefficiencies which are causing this insane drive to build data centers.
I think I just noticed it this morning! Thanks for sharing this, Josiah.