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Data centers in America: Construction compass malfunctions in 6 states
Lawmakers in New York state have introduced a bill that would impose a freeze of at least 3 years on licenses to build and operate new data centers.
While the bill's chances of passing remain uncertain, Wired magazine reported that New York is at least the sixth state considering suspending the construction of new data centers.
As technology companies plan to spend ever-increasing amounts on building artificial intelligence infrastructure, Democrats and Republicans have expressed concerns about the impact of these data centers on surrounding communities.
Studies have also linked data centers to higher household electricity bills.
Among the critics are progressive Senator Bernie Sanders, who called for a national freeze, as well as conservative Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who said the data centers would lead to "higher energy bills just so a chatbot can corrupt a 13-year-old online."
According to TechCrunch, more than 230 environmental organizations, including the Food and Water Watch, Friends of the Earth, and Greenpeace, recently signed an open letter to Congress calling for a national freeze on the construction of new data centers.
Eric Weltman of the Food and Water Watch told Wired magazine that the New York bill—introduced by Senator Liz Kruger and Representative Anna Kels, both Democrats—was "our idea."
Democrats in Georgia, Vermont and Virginia have proposed suspending the construction of data centers, while Republicans have introduced similar bills in Maryland and Oklahoma.
According to Politico, Kroger described her state as "completely unprepared" for the massive data centers that are "competing for New York".
She said, "It's time to pause and give ourselves a chance to catch our breath before adopting strict policies regarding data centers, and avoid falling into the trap of a bubble that will burst and saddle New York utility customers with exorbitant bills."
Last month, New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced a new initiative called "Revitalizing New York's Development," which her office said would modernize how major energy consumers (such as data centers) connect to the grid while also requiring them to "pay their fair share."
Potential risks to communities and the environment
According to a report by Harvard Business Review, despite the advancements and opportunities offered by artificial intelligence, as the demand for AI accelerates, there is an unprecedented expansion of massive, warehouse-like data centers packed with computing servers that consume enormous amounts of energy.These massive installations not only strain already overburdened power grids, but also contribute to air pollution, including fine particulate matter, leading to serious respiratory health consequences, which are estimated to cost around $20 billion annually in the United States by 2028.
With increasing global criticism of AI data centers due to their electricity and water consumption, there is also growing concern about their impact on public health.
Some government agencies have begun conducting health impact assessments of diesel generators located in data centers to determine emission limits, and residents of areas near a huge artificial intelligence data center in Memphis, Tennessee, have expressed serious concerns about air pollution and health risks, concerns that have made national headlines.
Whether you lead a multinational technology company building a global fleet of data centers, or a small company deploying AI in cloud computing, addressing the public health implications of AI is not only essential, but also has numerous strategic benefits. It demonstrates leadership in responsible AI, promotes community health, supports climate goals, and mitigates emerging commercial and regulatory risks.
This requires proactively integrating the public health implications of artificial intelligence into the design and deployment of AI, an approach we call "health-conscious AI".
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