This article examines the “Gold Rush” of data center construction in the Midwest, which is an area particularly attractive to big tech companies looking for locations for data centers. This is because the colder climates help with lower cooling costs of the data centers, as well as the access to water.
This article specifically looks at how Michigan might be attempting to follow Indiana’s lead in attracting Big Tech giants like Amazon and Google. Driven by the growing demands of and for AI, these “hyperscale” data centers are moving into rural areas like New Carlisle, Indiana, the main subject of this article, and Saline Township, Michigan, making this topic a hit close to home.
It seems like state officials and those in the government are eager to join the “AI economy,” local residents are concerned over the industrialization of farmland, the huge strain on the power grid, and the millions of gallons of water required daily to cool AI servers.
I’ve been keeping an eye on the development of the Saline, Michigan data centers since I first heard about them, and saw the protests on the street corners of the downtown area of Saline, with a little bit of dread in the pit of my stomach. I’ve seen a lot of videos and news about how the data centers have impacted the communities surrounding them, especially when it comes to their water and power bills, and seeing one possibly moving in so close to home isn’t welcomed news.
I think this article does a good job of looking at a specific community, with a number of similarities to Saline, and seeing how it is impacting the people who live there as a way to look into our possible future. It goes beyond just the logistic aspects like the power and water, and examines the things like the emotional and social impact from the industrialized landscape and increased traffic from the construction.
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