Tech Billionaires Found a New Way To Extract Wealth - More Perfect Union

[TexasTowelie]

Mingo County, West Virginia, was once thriving, but the coal industry’s decline left it one of the poorest counties in the US. Now, multiple data centers could be built in the region.Are data centers a new extractive industry, or will they provide a much-needed economic lifeline?

This story was produced by More Perfect Union in partnership with 100 Days in Appalachia, an independent, non-profit digital news publication.

[blue_jay]

1. Just saw a video tangentially related to the issue of Tech overreach and goals and how we got here

I haven't had time to fully vet but came across interesting video from The Nerd Reich on youtube that interviewed the author of a book written many years ago called Cyberselfish and noticed the libertarian leanings of part of the tech world many years ago compared to the originators of the computer world (now aged out) who apparently had more awareness of social responsibility. The youtube video / interview with her was pretty interesting: The Women who predicted Tech Fascism. The book is out of print so hard to get. Amazon gives minimal and mixed reviews but from my personal experience with studying and working with those in technology over the years, I could relate to many of the things she eluded to.

[ancianita]

2. The data centers will take far more than they give to locals.

-- Data centers consume vast amounts of energy and water for cooling, which can strain local resources and infrastructure, as highlighted in this report from Science, Technology and Public Policy at the U. of Michigan.
-- Data centers' significant energy consumption can lead to higher electricity bills for residents, potentially reducing local spending power.
-- Communities often offer substantial tax breaks to attract data centers, which shift the financial burden onto other residents and services like schools.
-- The massive energy demands of data centers can undermine state and local renewable energy goals and prolong the use of fossil fuel plants that provide the high megawatts of electricity that data center demand 24/7.

Average jobs provided number from 5-50, maybe up to 100, but outside technicians are usually brought in to run construction and maintenance, reducing local hiring opportunities.

A net economic loss to local communities.