Most Americans Oppose AI Data Centers Despite Local Education Benefits
Most Americans Say "Not in My Backyard" to AI Data Centers
A recent Redfin survey reveals that 53% of U.S. residents oppose building AI data centers nearby, citing concerns over noise, traffic, and resource strain. However, in northern Virginia, these facilities are driving a massive surge in tax revenue that is funding increased education spending and teacher salaries while allowing homeowner property tax rates to decline.
Residents are more worried about quality of life than a little extra money in county coffers.
- redlewel
I think this is because the demand is so extreme for datacenters now that companies are building them in a manner that disrupts the environment around them.
The newer ones are using on-site generators that are insanely loud and require multiples more power than datacenters have historically needed. For a rack with traditional servers with just RAM/CPU/Drives, 5kW is sufficient in most cases.
When you have racks that are full of 4U GPU systems that pull 3-6kW each, the power requirements per rack shoot up to 60kW+(with whole rack setups blowing past 100kW). So an AI datacenter requires over 20x the power compared to what they needed in the past. This either strains the power grid near the DC or they need to create on-site power to fulfill demand, which has noise and other concerns.
I work near a datacenter and you can't hear significant noise from the outside, maybe a slight humming sound but quieter than traffic. This is a DC that has been around for over a decade and uses power from the grid since most of the loads are non-GPU based.
- Aurornis
I agree that I don’t want a data center in my backyard either.
What’s missing from this strange conversation is discussion about how many data center proposals are near residential areas.
I tried to look for one in my state and a few surrounding areas and couldn’t find any. There was an amusing story about how data center protestors had to organize expensive bus trips to get the protesters out to the data center site because it was so remote.
There was another story about a small town without any major electricity or communication infrastructure coming together to impose a moratorium on data center construction. There were no plans to build data centers in their small town and no reason to consider it at all, but they felt so threatened that they needed to convene and put on a big show about banning it.
The social phenomenon of the data center construction protest movement is really fascinating. My assumption is that it will run its course and then be mostly dropped when the next current thing comes along.
There are some actual concerns about using natural gas instead of trying to utilize the optimal power sources or locations, but they’re mostly overshadowed by bogeyman complaints like thinking that a data center is going to end up in your backyard or water consumption that is negligible compared to golf courses and swimming pools.
- chasd00
No one ever cared about DCs before now. I think there’s a lot of social media influence from nation state competitors going on to try and slow SOTA development in the US.
Ironically, There’s enough issues with the DC buildout going on that even with 100% public opinion support it would still be significantly delayed. The behind the meter power generation isn’t going well. There’s only so many gas fired turbines on the market. And connecting a DC to an established grid isn’t like clicking a button in AWS no matter how much money you have.
- grim_io
Your dad's data centers are very different to the new GPU focused beasts.
The AI data centers consume a lot more power, and thus generate a lot more heat(equals cooling noise) per square meter.
This is the reason why it's a new problem right now.
Edit: autocorrect used breasts instead of beasts.
- mrhottakes
They're just awful to live near; the folks that are clamoring for more cheap tokens should try moving in next door to the token factory.
- socalgal2
Most Americans say "not in my backyard" to everything
I'm not saying they should want a data center in their backyard but headline wise "not in my backyard" is true of almost everything.
- NohatCoder
First thing missing from this "article" is a number indicating how many people don't want AI datacentres anywhere. You can't claim that someone is a NIMBY if their stance is that the damned thing shouldn't be built anywhere.
- duxup
We built data centers for decades without issue.
One I used to service frequently is actually surrounded by a large area of green-space, trees, marsh area, wildlife. The houses that border it are highly desirable as you effectively have an extension of a massive yard and great views relative to the suburban area surrounding it.
Somehow things changed and it's a bit surreal.
- sabujp
most americans say not in my backyard to more housing in their backyard too, but i digress.
- thelastgallon
100% of electricity used for GPU/CPU is converted to heat. Why not use it for district heating next to cold cities (MidWest of North America, Europe)? Use it for desalination plants in middle east?