Craig Porter Energy Technology Scholarship

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A growing number of US communities are blocking new AI data centers because of concerns about massive electricity use, rising water consumption, environmental damage, and higher power bills linked to expanding artificial intelligence infrastructure.

AI data centers are rapidly expanding across the United States, but many communities are now pushing back against these massive projects. Reports say around 69 jurisdictions have already blocked or restricted new data center construction as concerns grow over electricity use, water shortages, environmental impact, and rising utility bills.

Modern AI facilities require enormous amounts of energy to power servers and cool equipment. Some individual centers reportedly consume millions of gallons of water every day while using enough electricity to power entire cities. In Minnesota alone, proposed projects could demand energy equal to what millions of homes use combined. Because utility companies must upgrade infrastructure to support these facilities, residential electricity bills have also increased sharply in recent years.

This backlash has become known as the “Great Data Center Revolt.” Many residents feel that tech companies are benefiting while local communities deal with the environmental and financial consequences. Surveys mentioned in reports suggest most Americans do not want large AI data centers built near their neighborhoods.

In some places, opposition has become intense. A small town in Missouri reportedly voted out its city council after leaders approved a multibillion-dollar AI project. Maine is considering some of the strictest restrictions in the country, including limits on facilities requiring massive power usage. Other counties have proposed permanent bans instead of temporary pauses.

The growing resistance is creating problems for major technology companies such as Meta, Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI, which are racing to expand AI infrastructure. Industry experts warn that restrictions could slow down artificial intelligence development timelines across the country.

Politicians have also started paying attention. Some lawmakers are proposing national regulations, while others are demanding protections for ordinary electricity customers. Critics argue that communities should not be forced to sacrifice local resources and higher living costs just to support the rapid growth of artificial intelligence systems.

The debate highlights a larger question about the future of AI: whether technological progress should continue expanding at full speed if local communities must bear the environmental and economic burden.

Legislators in at least 28 states this year introduced bills that would roll back tax incentives for the energy-hungry facilities.

Read more from POLITICO: politico.com/news/2026/05/02/data-centers-states-tax-incentives-00891184

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This morning with Economist Paul Krugman for our new monthly series “Lunch Money.” Watch now on our YouTube channels.

Counting Sheep - American Solar Grazing Association Set to release in September 2024, the solar grazing documentary film project aims to raise awareness of the benefits that solar grazing can bring to farm families today, while helping preserve the land for future generations.

This week, I’m setting aside Talking Climate’s usual format to share joyful stories of people taking action for climate and nature—because sometimes what we need most is a reminder that solutions are already underway.

🇿🇦 In South Africa, SeaH4 is producing sustainable biofuel from algae that can be used in conventional combustion engines to help decarbonise shipping and aviation.

🇮🇳 In India, faculty and students at Azim Premji University are turning climate data into an embodied experience by performing the story of India’s heat waves in dance.

🇦🇱 In Albania, after 12 years of tireless advocacy, two activists succeeded in protecting the entire Vjosa River, creating Europe’s first Wild River National Park.

🇦🇺 In Australia a humourous new series, The New Joneses, follows the hosts as they travel around the country by EV, exploring climate solutions.

🇨🇦 In Canada nineteen-year-old Fatih Amin, shaped by the climate impacts he witnessed growing up in Bangladesh, is catalyzing youth-led climate action.

🇵🇪 In Lima, Peru - one of the world’s driest cities - an engineer is using fog-catching nets to pull clean water from the air for communities that need it most.

We can’t fix climate change alone; but you know what? We don't have to! Millions of people are already working on it. And when we add our voice and our hands, action accelerates.

Don't forget to share what you learn here with your friends and family this week. Two great conversation starters are, "Did you know...?" or "You wouldn't believe what I read...?" Give it a try!

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