Way off topic: Data Centers
- Thread starter Tgar
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It’s only an issue for the ones with the big numbers, in the wealthy areas.
I do not, but Ohio is #5 nationally in the amount of data centers. Residents in a few of the rural areas outside of Dayton are trying to prevent the building of data centers.
Let me guess. You’re trying to become tgarbrokovich.
Would this be then in the 4th person?
Yes they are creating their own little heat zone. As are cities now because of the cement, asphalt in them holds the heat. Biggest concern to data centers from people living near them seems to be the noise, energy consumption to power them and the amount of water for cooling them.
There is no sense arguing about the need for data centers. They are essential for AI development. If we don't have AI developement, then we will need Chinese Language learning centers because they will take over the US.
I'll add the effect on the habitat of the animals/wildlife there. But yes cities are already heat domes. The meteorological reading center at BWI is now over asphalt (though 100+ ft in the air) rather than out in an open field as it was 20 years ago.
To me the water consumption is the biggest issue. Can't wait until MD imposes another rain tax....
I though AI was from the Hampton Roads areaAren’t AI and the Chinese the same thing?
Chickity China the Chinese chickenAren’t AI and the Chinese the same thing?
You have a drumstick and your brain stops tickin'
All of a sudden everybody is banning data centers. Seems to be a hot issue the last two days around the country.
I need my Chat G PT, money for nothin' ...
Ashburn VA is just down the road from me (more than six miles though). Data Centers have sprung up like weeds since we moved away from Loudoun County; they’re a massive eyesore and energy black hole. But, they generate something like a third of all tax revenue for the county (and growing). One housing development in Ashburn is being offered $4mm per home for folks to move (these are at most million dollar houses). Very glad I don’t live in Ashburn or Loudoun - they suck power and water like crazy.
they are building a massive one in El Paso, TX. Like it's not already hot enough here and yea there are going to be some real water issues.
Not sure it's a great idea to build it in the desert.
I live near 200 of them. And some are probably within 6 miles.
Haven’t experienced ground warming but they really consume power and water. Pretty big political topic here in Loudoun County.
I've been building and operating data centers for 20 years. Been in Telecom infrastructure (wireless, wireline) since mid 1990's with the Telecom Act in 1996. I've been following the data center turmoil near Parkland high school. Lots of massive inaccuracies being spread. Happy to answer any questions honestly. I am about to start on a 20-40MW facility in Kentucky.
One of the nicer golf courses in the Hbrg area is closing and will be replaced by a data center.
As soon as it’s complete I’ll ask Alexa why I suck at golf.
As soon as it’s complete I’ll ask Alexa why I suck at golf.
The powers that be are going to do what they have to do. Growing up in the early sixties
the power shovels stripped our land and put a dump 4 miles from where we lived. No
town halls, or protests , they just did it. They needed the coal.
I get a kick out of town halls with red faced protesters talking to boards and they are listening
like Notre Dame fans. The same people who called us dump rats and strippin' boys are passing
out flyers and petitions , they're wasting their time.
the power shovels stripped our land and put a dump 4 miles from where we lived. No
town halls, or protests , they just did it. They needed the coal.
I get a kick out of town halls with red faced protesters talking to boards and they are listening
like Notre Dame fans. The same people who called us dump rats and strippin' boys are passing
out flyers and petitions , they're wasting their time.
Dauphin Highlands? Seems like I heard it was going to be sold to developers 20+ years ago, and then multiple times through the years. I didn't realize they were still open until I just searched to see which course you were talking about. Really liked it when I played a lot of golf out that way back in the day.
Did they mark that down as the progress of man
Does a new massive data center dedicated to AI capabilities have the capability to heat the surrounding ground and air environment?
Does a new massive Data center dedicated to AI capabilities suck water for cooling from the local surroundings?
Fill us in on Electricity usage as well.
Are they noisy?
Are you familiar with the Mega center development proposed for Homer City?
Thanks.
I understand these things are the brownfields of the future. I thought Elon was exploring putting them up in space?
Dear Erin,
1). Your first eco-wish list item was fulfilled. They shut down the Homer City coal-fired electricity generation plant in 2023. Are you happy now? Apparently not.
2) Now you're apparently upset that they switched to natural gas and are building an eco-friendly 4.5 GigaWatt power generation facility that is creating thousands of jobs and providing the local residents with a safe, reliable and low-cost source of electricity. Is that now taboo in your orbit?
3) Are you and your ilk ever pleased with progress?
It will certainly provide some solid employment. The Governor has been all over that as he would expect to be. Hopefully many jobs will go to locals, but like with a lot of the fracking operations, the lowest paying jobs are all the locals can manage to get.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro is promoting the development of AI data centers to boost the economy, while mandating strict environmental, transparency, and local hiring standards, known as GRID (Governor's Responsible Infrastructure Development), to minimize community impact. These standards aim to speed up permitting for developers who comply with regulations on energy use and water consumption.
The Homer City Data Center Complex and associated natural gas power plant project is expected to create over 10,000 direct on-site construction-related jobs. Once fully operational, the site is projected to support approximately 1,000 total direct and indirect permanent, high-paying positions in technology, operations, and energy infrastructure.
Homer City Redevelopment +3
Key details regarding the project's employment:
- Construction Phase: As of April 2026, about 1,200 workers are already on-site for the initial phases of the $10 billion project.
- Long-Term Roles: The 1,000 permanent positions will be focused on running the AI data center and the attached 4.4 GW power station.
- Economic Impact: The project aims to convert the former coal-fired plant into a major digital infrastructure hub.
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But you didn't mention anything about radiant heat. Wasn't that the crux of your original post?
It was but you changed the subject slightly to another aspect of this emerging industry. Heating, water usage, cost of electricity etc are all concerns as are jobs.But you didn't mention anything about radiant heat. Wasn't that the crux of your original post?
Will heat be created? Sure. Will it be more than any other project which creates large paved areas and cuts down trees and kills the grass? Probably not much more than a shopping plaza or housing development. Progress.
The problem I have heard about power plants is the water discharge. Even with the cooling towers, the cooling water goes into the river warmer than when you took it out. This can affect the plant and animal habitats.
The problem I have heard about power plants is the water discharge. Even with the cooling towers, the cooling water goes into the river warmer than when you took it out. This can affect the plant and animal habitats.
I've heard people bring up a lot of issues about data centers but heating was never one of them. This sounds like BS.
This is totally untrue. DEP closely regulates water discharges, not just quality but temperature too.
You are probably right. I was just summarizing what an ecologically ”active” professor claimed in a class I took 40 years ago. I never thought about it since then.
May have been true 40 years ago. I know a lot of people reflexively hate regulations because big government, but many are put in place to fix problems. For example, as many people in health and safety professions say, regulations they follow are usually “written in blood” as they are written in response to a tragedy.
DCNR does not monitor uniformly across the state.
Summary
The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) does not monitor all water discharge comprehensively.
Monitoring Scope
- The DCNR primarily focuses on specific regulatory programs and selected sites for monitoring water quality and hydrologic trends, rather than all water discharges across the state.
- The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) conducts some monitoring, but it is limited to regulatory frameworks.
AI Data Centers May Be Warming The Land Around Them | Weather.com
AI’s rapid expansion may be creating “heat islands,” raising temperatures miles beyond data centers and putting millions at risk.
weather.com