> I’m wondering why these data centers are such a nuisance. We’ve had data centers for years. Is it just the fast growth and number? That's likely a big part o

> I’m wondering why these data centers are such a nuisance. We’ve had data centers for years. Is it just the fast growth and number? That's likely a big part of it. AI data centers need an order of magnitude or more power than a cloud data center, and a lot more are being built. Before with the lower power requirements and with slow and steady growth a data center project was handled by the utilities just like they handled a new factory or a new large shopping mall. The utility might need to add substation of some local transmission lines but it wasn't a big deal. An AI data center uses so much more power that even if the utility has enough capacity overall to cover it, the AI data center needs that all at one site meaning quit a bit more new infrastructure needs to be built. Now add in the number being built. The utility now is much less likely to have generation capacity to cover them, meaning the utility will have to buy electricity on the open market which is more expensive. Another factor is that many AI data centers cannot wait for that and so find sources of energy other than the grid to tide them over for the several years it might take before the grid is ready for them. These sources are often not good for their neighbors.