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Microsoft, Google, Meta, and Amazon Fight Calls to Pay for Electric Grid Updates

17 points by m463 2y ago

paulryanrogers 2y ago
Since data centers are driving up demand, and therefore how much coal byproducts go into my kids lungs, the least they can do is pay for the infrastructure upgrades.
- mensetmanusman 2y ago
  This is more true in China than in the US.
mensetmanusman 2y ago
Creating an infrastructure with an extreme abundance of available energy is good for everyone.
- nuc1e0n 2y ago
  Yes. And that needs to be paid for somehow. Who most wants it and who has the most money with which to create it? Big tech always talks of 'making the world a better place'. Paying these costs is a way to prove that.
  - mensetmanusman 2y ago
    I think the obvious solution is to cost share. Provide stocks for the capital assets required for this power distribution, and make the data centers invested into backup plans if their own power utilizations decrease.
    - nuc1e0n 2y ago
      What is the problem this 'solution' is intended to solve? How to not pay a fair price for services?
Cordiali 2y ago
Requiring them to know their demand in ten years is a bit unfair, but understandable. It's basically a guarantee that they won't be out of pocket, if the companies pull out after five years. Or say, if they simply threaten to, as leverage in future negotiations. What's their alternative, that the rest of Ohio pays for the upgrade? That's costs and/or risk, that would overwhelmingly be generated by `(world_pop - ohio_pop)`. I'm just about on the opposite side of the planet, but data doesn't need a passport. It'd be slightly more unfair and discriminatory to expect Rustbeltians to absorb costs or risk, so that those companies can send me their data.
nuc1e0n 2y ago
What is meant by "fight Calls to pay"? If the power company asks a certain amount for service and companies refuse to pay, then they don't get service. Installing infrastructure costs money. It seems these big tech corporations hope to make money with their server farms, but don't want to pay for the costs associated with them.

17 points by m463 2y ago

Since data centers are driving up demand, and therefore how much coal byproducts go into my kids lungs, the least they can do is pay for the infrastructure upgrades.

mensetmanusman 2y ago
This is more true in China than in the US.

mensetmanusman 2y ago

Creating an infrastructure with an extreme abundance of available energy is good for everyone.

nuc1e0n 2y ago
Yes. And that needs to be paid for somehow. Who most wants it and who has the most money with which to create it? Big tech always talks of 'making the world a better place'. Paying these costs is a way to prove that.
- mensetmanusman 2y ago
  I think the obvious solution is to cost share. Provide stocks for the capital assets required for this power distribution, and make the data centers invested into backup plans if their own power utilizations decrease.
  - nuc1e0n 2y ago
    What is the problem this 'solution' is intended to solve? How to not pay a fair price for services?

Cordiali 2y ago

Requiring them to know their demand in ten years is a bit unfair, but understandable. It's basically a guarantee that they won't be out of pocket, if the companies pull out after five years. Or say, if they simply threaten to, as leverage in future negotiations. What's their alternative, that the rest of Ohio pays for the upgrade? That's costs and/or risk, that would overwhelmingly be generated by `(world_pop - ohio_pop)`. I'm just about on the opposite side of the planet, but data doesn't need a passport. It'd be slightly more unfair and discriminatory to expect Rustbeltians to absorb costs or risk, so that those companies can send me their data.

nuc1e0n 2y ago

What is meant by "fight Calls to pay"? If the power company asks a certain amount for service and companies refuse to pay, then they don't get service. Installing infrastructure costs money. It seems these big tech corporations hope to make money with their server farms, but don't want to pay for the costs associated with them.