@asklemmy@lemmy.world @asklemmy@lemmy.ml what are the likely impacts of datacenters on water and on energy supply ? Can someone please enlighten me on this ?
Water usage is a drop in the bucket globally, but can have a significant impact locally. Energy supply isn’t threatened, but the distribution system is overtaxed and big companies are often given tax breaks that leave residents holding the bag for the costs of expanding energy supply and distribution.
So by and large data centers aren’t any worse than a super Walmart (which isn’t great), but the fact is no one would want one in their town, while a Walmart is actually useful locally — though it’s a monkey’s paw.
This is spot on. The big question is how to pay for the additional generation and distribution capacity. Typically this demand grows slowly and is amortized over decades. Data center demand is coming very rapidly all at once and there is no guarantee these companies will even exist 5-10 years from now. All that said, if tech companies pay for improvements to generation and distribution that would be something everyone would benefit from.
@xylogx @MagicShel why do you think that these companies won’t exist after 10 years ??
It depends on the company. Some of these data centers are frankly ran by assholes, which draw a lot of power and water.
It is because they are narcissistic idiots.
Our centers use solar and we actually give to the grid, we use grey water (meaning we reuse water by cooling it) and dielectric oil systems.
But there are fuckfaces using gas generators. So there is a bit of a spread. Like, we have bee hives. We just thought things out differently.
@expletivedeleted where is this data center ??
Earth.
Corporations are not known for paying their fair share and being responsible stewards of the land. Regulations exist because assholes in the past tried to do exactly what is being regulated against. They did this for money regardless of consequences.
Data centers will push for tax breaks that you ultimately pay for with higher taxes. They will become a major customer for the electric company and will negotiate better prices that you will subsidize in higher prices. They will pollute the environment and likely face no repercussions even with a government that is more eco-friendly (this current one (US) is actively eco-hostile).
