Cherries are good. Data centers? Not so much

by Andrew L McFarlane via today’s Michigan in Pictures…

Last night on Facebook, Erin Brockovich shared:

Michigan, the state famous for its cherries, has been reaching out for months with concerns about proposed AI data centers in local communities.

I’ve heard from residents in Marshall, Saline Township, Lowell, Dowagiac, Dorr, and many other towns. People are very engaged and asking important questions. The issues being raised echo what we’ve seen nationwide: water impacts/rights, utility costs rising, 765kV transmission lines, rezoning disputes, NDAs, zero transparency, among other issues.

She adds that she appreciates everyone who has shared information through the Brockovich AI Data Center Reporting website. They are working to raise community awareness nationwide about the fast-moving wave of data centers & how communities are working to block them or shape the impact on their water and power resources and the the fabric of their communities.

And yes, she is THAT Erin Brockovich.

This photo is mine, taken July 5, 2007 on the Leelanau Peninsula and processed by me. I decided to use my own photo so people aren’t being mean to someone else on behalf of data centers. If you are thinking of being a champion for these strange & secretive facilities that somehow have to be everywhere and also guarded by robot dogs, I will remind you that data centers are impacting water health & access or that datacenters increase power prices & reduce power availability. That’s probably why 7 in 10 people Americans don’t want a datacenter in their community, and they are strongly opposed by nearly half of us.

Please consider all of that before you uncork your brainless “how come you still use computers & the internet” attack on a person who has been using the internet to share stories since you had to capitalize Internet. If you do want to ride for Artificial Intelligence, I encourage you to educate yourself about the Facts & Myths around AI datacenters.