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NIMBY is stopping data centers. Maine set to become first state with data center ban: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/09/maine-data-center-ban.html https://www.cn

NIMBY is stopping data centers. Maine set to become first state with data center ban: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/09/maine-data-center-ban.html https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/09/maine-data-center-ban.html Also, it's a different kind of more insidious and visceral NIMBY rooted in racism and classism.

WillPostForFood 6mo ago
Yes, see the famous essay, Nimby Good When My Neighborhood by I Hyppocrit.
ghaff 6mo ago
Not sure it's a bad thing. So, they would employ maybe 30 people after they're built. Consume a lot of power and water. I'd have to see the details of a specific proposal but I'd probably vote against personally.
kavok 6mo ago
Sure, it’s stopping some, but not most/all even with strong public opposition. See: https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/small-missouri-town-ousts-half-its-city-council-after-usd6-billion-ai-data-center-approval-petition-calls-for-mayors-removal-as-frustration-and-violence-over-ai-data-centers-mounts https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/small-missouri-to...
kulahan 6mo ago
It's facetious to pretend NIMBYs are as such because they're racist and classist, rather than because they just want to protect the single most valuable and future-determining investment they'll make in their entire lives.
- otterley 6mo ago
  Those factors are tied together and aren’t easily separable. The racism and classism comes in because they believe that people of a different race or class will diminish the value of their investment.
  - tormeh 6mo ago
    If enough people believe this then it is true. That's just how markets work.
    - otterley 6mo ago
      It is how (unregulated) markets work, but is this the right outcome? What do you think would happen if this were allowed to play out to its logical extent?
      - kulahan 6mo ago
        Desirable things become expensive and undesirable things become inexpensive.

WillPostForFood 6mo ago

Yes, see the famous essay, Nimby Good When My Neighborhood by I Hyppocrit.

ghaff 6mo ago

Not sure it's a bad thing. So, they would employ maybe 30 people after they're built. Consume a lot of power and water. I'd have to see the details of a specific proposal but I'd probably vote against personally.

kavok 6mo ago

Sure, it’s stopping some, but not most/all even with strong public opposition. See: https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/small-missouri-town-ousts-half-its-city-council-after-usd6-billion-ai-data-center-approval-petition-calls-for-mayors-removal-as-frustration-and-violence-over-ai-data-centers-mounts https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/small-missouri-to...

kulahan 6mo ago

It's facetious to pretend NIMBYs are as such because they're racist and classist, rather than because they just want to protect the single most valuable and future-determining investment they'll make in their entire lives.

otterley 6mo ago
Those factors are tied together and aren’t easily separable. The racism and classism comes in because they believe that people of a different race or class will diminish the value of their investment.
- tormeh 6mo ago
  If enough people believe this then it is true. That's just how markets work.
  - otterley 6mo ago
    It is how (unregulated) markets work, but is this the right outcome? What do you think would happen if this were allowed to play out to its logical extent?
    - kulahan 6mo ago
      Desirable things become expensive and undesirable things become inexpensive.