Amazon (Matt Garman, CEO of Amazon Web Services) directly made their case for data centers. Consider the source, and do with this what you will: - Data centers use relatively little water for the economic return - Amazon claims they pay their own way on energy use - low emissions - data centers generate high-paying jobs and pay a lot in taxes I am a huge fan of data centers, mainly because it's a contest whether we get to true AI first or China does, and China winning would be a global disaster. Link in comments.

Oct 2, 2026 · 4:07 PM UTC

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Link: aboutamazon.com/news/company…

The race our nation can’t afford to lose, plus a new commitment from us and a fresh set of commun...

Amazon's commitment to community-focused data center development, plus introducing Built Together, a new investment program for data center communities.

aboutamazon.com
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Replying to @PlotWeaver
Air handler headed to oracle 88008
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Impressive machine
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Replying to @PlotWeaver
They run gheir EV fleets off diesel generators and have the nerve to talk about low emissions.
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To be fair, the diesel generators are primarily a backup, if I understand correctly. There are plenty of reasons to despise Amazon, so let's not invent ours. @grok is my post accurate?
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Replying to @PlotWeaver
Really? 300,000 gallons/day for medium sized ones. Weird people show power bills that 2x and 3x after data center. Exactly how many data centers do we need to create AI?
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I'd like to see an honest analysis on power bill changes - including whether it's state regulations raising power prices everywhere in the state, or just the regions that share a power source with the data centers.
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Replying to @PlotWeaver
A great deal of the push-back from supposedly grassroots anti-data center resistance groups are quietly funded by organizations with ties to the CCP. China wants to dominate in AI, knowing that ultimately it will determine economic dominance.
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China leads in several other areas, but the US leads in data centers and overall - if I understand correctly. China wants us to give up our lead based on our internal politics. @grok is that accurate? In which areas does each country lead the AI race?
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Replying to @PlotWeaver
Keep them out of small towns. Especially when they say no. If you're actually serious about wanting data centers start talking about nuclear power.
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I'm a huge fan of nuclear. It's a shame the bureaucracy blocks that so effieciently.
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Replying to @PlotWeaver
Our hubris as a species is almost unparalleled.
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We usually get it right. Is 90% an A?
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Replying to @PlotWeaver
We need more data center capacity to allow for the increase in compute needed for AI, but, also to control the production robotics that AI will enable. The use and expansion of robotics will allow us to develop new processes here in the states that were deemed too dangerous or cost inefficient for humans.
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I see it the same. The return on investment from data centers will be enormous. I assume that is why our adversaries are amplifying anti-technology voices in America.
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Replying to @PlotWeaver
What is "true AI"? Singularity isn't going to happen with current AI because it is JUST machine learning. Heuristic algorithms that build statistical models for decision making. That's not conscious and never will be. AI using most popular answer is VERY dangerous.
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We'll see whether its advance levels out. I see serious risks even without "Skynet becomes conscious".
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Replying to @PlotWeaver
There's more data centers in the state of Virginia vs all of china, not sure about the so-called race. In ohio they are giving them 30 year tax breaks , so pretty sure the tax slaves are getting the bad end of this.
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I don't approve of tax breaks for anyone. Pass one tax law, keep spending low, and don't make exceptions.
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Replying to @PlotWeaver
Is he willing to live with rules like Florida's SB 484 (Chapter 2026-65)? If not then he isn't serious about paying their own way and about conserving water And there should be other noise related restrictions as well - that bill is really just a first step
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I have decided against buying in certain areas because of industrial noise, but sound barriers can help a lot. And, yes, such mitigations should be mandatory.
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Replying to @PlotWeaver
We already have thousands more data centers than China. Why do we want to compete with China in mass surveillance of citizens?
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Mass surveillance is or should be a separate question. Get rid of that, but keep AI and positive data processing.
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Replying to @PlotWeaver
Having been a programmer for a machine learning project that was highly successful and then watched it be redone by id10ts and FAIL... AI is great at single tasks and ALWAYS must be trained with positive/negative feedback. That is what is missing right now in many models.
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I'm wondering how this will scale over time. From the math perspective, logistic leveling off seems plausible as they run out of new data to train on.
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