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Thanks for an educated reply. This is the first argument I have seen that isn't stupid. So there's truth in the statement afterall. Clearly a powerful PR campa

Thanks for an educated reply. This is the first argument I have seen that isn't stupid. So there's truth in the statement afterall. Clearly a powerful PR campaign going on because there is soooo many dumb takes this kind of argument vanishes. I do think that amoung all our water uses this is easily the nicest amoung them. I think datacenters are the new factories and as far as factories go they are the cleanest ones ever made. But I suppose if you have the impression AI is useless then it makes sense. But if this is america's future industry we should make room. These centers are even funding infrastructure upgrades. To me they are the closest thing we'll get to reindustrialization in our lives and I would still want a stronger push for even more aggressive buildout.

shagie 16d ago
Water use is one of the causes that can unite the various edges of political divides. Rural and urban. Conservative and liberal. Many parts of the country have been experiencing drought conditions. I had Oregon up there - here's the current conditions there. https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?OR https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonito... I don't see it so much as a "PR campaign" against it, but rather it is a populist issue that has broad appeal being against technology companies that are seen as the bad guys. The data center build outs are not doing themselves any favors by going cheap (evaporative cooling), noisy fans ( https://www.npr.org/2026/09/17/nx-s1-5954414/residents-file-lawsuit-challenging-noise-pollution-from-elon-musks-data-center https://www.npr.org/2026/09/17/nx-s1-5954414/residents-file-... ) and then being secretive about the "how much is there" makes it look all the more nefarious and underhanded. The claims of "its taking our water" or "its raising our electric bills" or "its taking our (kids) jobs" or "its stealing all our art" are all things that have some grain of truth to them and easy to rally behind one (or all) of those reasons. The choice of water as the topic is easily the most visible and the one that can get farmers and city folk to agree on. Going to closed cycle cooling, funding the reuse of waste heat for winter district heating, and such could go to mitigate the public outrage about them... but those aren't the cheapest ways to build them.
- johnsmith1840 16d ago
  Thanks, gave me something to think about for sure. Your suggestion on this is mitigation then? Take an aluminum or concrete plant. I see it as a hard argument to give to these companies that they are somehow special and therefore should do more to their already low impact "factory" If we compared these to large scale steel mills for example. I agree with your point that mitigation can help public opinion but on the opposite side I don't see how you can make a reasonable argument to the builders that this is actually worth funding?
  - shagie 16d ago
    I believe the best argument would be "be good neighbors now before you're regulated and zoned out." Consider Texas... one would think that they'd be one of the more business friendly areas. https://www.businessinsider.com/greg-abbott-texas-data-centers-backlash-2026-8 https://www.businessinsider.com/greg-abbott-texas-data-cente... ( https://archive.ph/1bsVF https://archive.ph/1bsVF ) > The AI industry is reaping what it sows, as far as Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is concerned. > Abbott said the sharp criticism Americans are lobbing at AI data centers is well-earned during an interview on ABC's "This Week" on Sunday. > "They basically dug their own grave for the problem that's been caused for them, and that's why they got the backlash they deserve," Abbott said. > ... > Abbott was initially an ardent supporter of AI data center projects in Texas for their economic benefit. The giant server warehouses can generate jobs during construction and provide tax windfalls to local communities. However, Texans from Abilene to Sulphur Springs have taken hard stances against them, forcing Abbott to change his tune. > Abbott has introduced new standards for AI data center projects in Texas, including instructing the state's utility commission and electrical grid operator to protect residents from infrastructure costs. He's also suggested a ban on data center developments in rural Texas, and that projects must undergo an audit before moving forward. Its a "this is going to hit construction" and if its done now trying to mitigate things or if it is going to be getting local city councils getting thrown out until there's one that can pull the permits... or a governor who needs to make a stance to get elected. Those regulations requiring mitigation are going to happen and it's a "do it now as new construction or be required to do it in three years" as retrofits. New construction and making an effort to mitigate it will likely be the less expensive way over the next decade... but its not the cheapest way to build it today.

shagie 16d ago

Water use is one of the causes that can unite the various edges of political divides. Rural and urban. Conservative and liberal. Many parts of the country have been experiencing drought conditions. I had Oregon up there - here's the current conditions there. https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?OR https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonito... I don't see it so much as a "PR campaign" against it, but rather it is a populist issue that has broad appeal being against technology companies that are seen as the bad guys. The data center build outs are not doing themselves any favors by going cheap (evaporative cooling), noisy fans ( https://www.npr.org/2026/09/17/nx-s1-5954414/residents-file-lawsuit-challenging-noise-pollution-from-elon-musks-data-center https://www.npr.org/2026/09/17/nx-s1-5954414/residents-file-... ) and then being secretive about the "how much is there" makes it look all the more nefarious and underhanded. The claims of "its taking our water" or "its raising our electric bills" or "its taking our (kids) jobs" or "its stealing all our art" are all things that have some grain of truth to them and easy to rally behind one (or all) of those reasons. The choice of water as the topic is easily the most visible and the one that can get farmers and city folk to agree on. Going to closed cycle cooling, funding the reuse of waste heat for winter district heating, and such could go to mitigate the public outrage about them... but those aren't the cheapest ways to build them.

johnsmith1840 16d ago
Thanks, gave me something to think about for sure. Your suggestion on this is mitigation then? Take an aluminum or concrete plant. I see it as a hard argument to give to these companies that they are somehow special and therefore should do more to their already low impact "factory" If we compared these to large scale steel mills for example. I agree with your point that mitigation can help public opinion but on the opposite side I don't see how you can make a reasonable argument to the builders that this is actually worth funding?
- shagie 16d ago
  I believe the best argument would be "be good neighbors now before you're regulated and zoned out." Consider Texas... one would think that they'd be one of the more business friendly areas. https://www.businessinsider.com/greg-abbott-texas-data-centers-backlash-2026-8 https://www.businessinsider.com/greg-abbott-texas-data-cente... ( https://archive.ph/1bsVF https://archive.ph/1bsVF ) > The AI industry is reaping what it sows, as far as Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is concerned. > Abbott said the sharp criticism Americans are lobbing at AI data centers is well-earned during an interview on ABC's "This Week" on Sunday. > "They basically dug their own grave for the problem that's been caused for them, and that's why they got the backlash they deserve," Abbott said. > ... > Abbott was initially an ardent supporter of AI data center projects in Texas for their economic benefit. The giant server warehouses can generate jobs during construction and provide tax windfalls to local communities. However, Texans from Abilene to Sulphur Springs have taken hard stances against them, forcing Abbott to change his tune. > Abbott has introduced new standards for AI data center projects in Texas, including instructing the state's utility commission and electrical grid operator to protect residents from infrastructure costs. He's also suggested a ban on data center developments in rural Texas, and that projects must undergo an audit before moving forward. Its a "this is going to hit construction" and if its done now trying to mitigate things or if it is going to be getting local city councils getting thrown out until there's one that can pull the permits... or a governor who needs to make a stance to get elected. Those regulations requiring mitigation are going to happen and it's a "do it now as new construction or be required to do it in three years" as retrofits. New construction and making an effort to mitigate it will likely be the less expensive way over the next decade... but its not the cheapest way to build it today.