From Nathan Dombeck

Janesville

To the Editor:

Whatever your personal feelings on data centers, the general tide of sentiment is turning against them. New York legislators just introduced a strict piece of legislation that would put a three-year moratorium against any construction of data centers; Wisconsin is weighing legislation that would put a pause on data center construction while complex issues of land use, water use, electricity sources and who should pay for them, and general infrastructure development are debated.

The irony is that you might be reading this online; data centers serve many masters, not just AI, and often help host our online life in the nebulous ‘cloud’. However, before pointing the finger, it is worth keeping in mind that the largest ‘hyperscale’ data centers proposed often center around the burgeoning use of AI, a helpful technology in limited aspects but one that many experts worry is progressing too fast while simultaneously being overhyped. We need to find a balance between enjoying the benefits of online technology while not giving up our autonomy and natural resources to serve them; we need to avoid participating in a data infrastructure ‘bubble’ that may leave us with polluting, stranded assets.

Janesville, Kenosha, Mount Pleasant, Port Washington — these cities all have proposed or active development of data centers, and there is very little evidence that elected officials have engaged their constituents before moving forward with such proposals. It’s high time for a deep breath, and a step back.