"But as recent studies also strongly suggest, Americans’ lives will likely be far better, not worse, thanks to the beneficial impact that AI and data centers will have on the overall economy."
"Americans are clearly torn over artificial intelligence and the electricity-hungry data centers now being built around the country that make it all possible. As the latest I&I/TIPP Poll shows, voters are at best ambivalent about the giant AI high-tech transformation, and worry about its impact on energy costs and their household budgets.
"In its latest survey, the national online I&I/TIPP Poll began by asking 1,463 voters: “How concerned are you that your household’s electricity bills will increase over the next 12 months?”
"In something of a landslide, a hefty 75% majority overall responded that they would be either “very” concerned (41%) or “somewhat” concerned (34%), while just 20% said they would either be “not very” concerned (14%) or “not concerned at all” (7%)." . . . More.
Terry Jones is an editor of Issues & Insights. His four decades of journalism experience include serving as national issues editor, economics editor, and editorial page editor for Investor’s Business Daily.
Data Center Backlash Brings Thousands of Projects to a Screeching Halt
"Americans’ growing opposition to the prevalence of data centers has led many politicians to limit or pause their increase altogether.
Lawmakers in New York and Texas, for example, have effected stoppages of data center projects, while other states, such as Pennsylvania, have issued more restrictions on data center construction. Americans’ support for data centers has generally plummeted, as critics have linked them to higher utility bills—reflecting extraordinary water and energy usage—being experienced by local communities.
Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott issued a sprawling data center moratorium in early August as residents soured on data centers. Abbott claimed his moratorium would protect Texans.
“My directive has halted up to 1,800 data center projects. I established guidelines & guardrails to protect Texas communities,” he wrote in a Wednesday post to social media, adding that data centers must not take water from communities, tax the Texas energy grid, or otherwise disrupt communities." . . . More.
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