Are propaganda campaigns turning people against data centers?

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OPINION — I believe most people who are opposed to AI data centers like Project Baccara in the West Valley are misinformed.

People hear that their power bill will go up. However, the existing Ratepayer Protection Pledge brought together tech titans including Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Meta, OpenAI, Oracle and xAI — who agreed to pay for their own electricity generation infrastructure to power their data center operations while providing additional capacity to bolster the public’s power supply. Under this agreement, ratepayers should not see an increase in their electricity bills. 

Then there is water consumption. A data center recirculates water through a closed cooling system with limited evaporation. It works like our golf courses, which reuse their own water, albeit with more evaporation.

Noise generated by data centers is actively managed, with mitigation measures which combine strategic design, equipment selection and operational controls to reduce low-frequency and high-frequency noise for employees and surrounding communities. 

Architects are now focusing on creating visually appealing designs for these facilities, moving away from utilitarian warehouse-like appearances.  

It’s critical that data centers be constructed on U.S, soil and not overseas. We need to maintain ownership of our data infrastructure and not lease it from some foreign entity who may have conflicting interests which could undermine our national security.  

These concerns are genuine and are being addressed. Solutions exist, and further progress will depend on individuals committed to innovation. 

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