Data Centers - NIMBY or YIMBY?

[Jeff Lebowski]

The "X Safety Team". I don't think I have ever had more confidence in a group or organization.

You think they are lying about chinese bots?

[frank ryan]

You think they are lying about chinese bots?

I wouldn't be surprised if it were true, but Elon doesn't merit initial trust. By extension either does X.

I also think DSA is likely receiving financial support from China/

[Bo Diddley]

Embedded Tweet

This was inevitable and I think the unions have a good argument here. I’m still holding to my theory that AI has a loose parallel to the machine automation of the last half century. One replaced blue collar jobs and the other is replacing white collar jobs. The white collar workers are just now finding out what it’s like to have a superior non human worker take over their livelihood…which is really what’s driving the anti-AI data center push. The anti data center protests are as dumb as the unions that protest automating things like factories or ports.

At the same time, robotics is replacing blue collar jobs. Turbulent times are coming.

[Jeff Lebowski]

I wouldn't be surprised if it were true, but Elon doesn't merit initial trust. By extension either does X.

EMDS

[BlueK]

EMDS

I don't know man, I can't think of a good reason not to be suspicious of Musk.

[Jeff Lebowski]

I don't know man, I can't think of a good reason not to be suspicious of Musk.

"I don't like Elon Musk. So I don't believe the Chinese run bot farms to influence US social media."

Seems very rational

[chrisrenrut]

You think they are lying about chinese bots?

Maybe so. But do you think X is over-selling and sensationalizing the point? Kevin O'Leary clearly iblaming chinese eoperatives for Utah grassroots movements incorrectly Kind of undermines this as well.

I also think there is plenty of organic distrust and valid concerns over data centers that chinese bot farms aren't really moving the needle much.

[Clark Addison]

What are the valid concerns about data centers?

[chrisrenrut]

Of course there are. This doesn't sound like a sincere question. Certainly you can find reputable sources with a simple google search if I'm misreading your intent. As much as anything, common sense. How can there not be local negative effects of a pulling more energy into a concentrated site than an entire state uses. Power, sound, heat, waste, low job creation, etc.

The real argument is whether the negatives are offset by the benefit of data centers. Pulling China into the argument is a red herring.

[Northwestcoug]

I guess this is better than unchecked water consumption:

The largest planned AI data center in New Jersey is being accused of violating federal law after a Floodlight visual investigation found the site running dozens of unpermitted gas-powered generators.

Thermal drone footage we captured last week showed the partly completed DataOne facility in Vineland was operating at least 45 of the site's 62 generators at the time.

DataOne has stirred controversy since breaking ground in 2025 due to persistent noise complaints, unpermitted construction and a contentious zoning process. It's located about 40 miles outside Philadelphia and slated to provide AI computing power to Microsoft as part of a $17-billion deal with Nebius, a Dutch AI infrastructure giant.

Located roughly a mile from two schools, the tractor-trailer-size generators emit substantial amounts of health-harming air pollution linked to asthma, heart attacks and even premature death.

None have permits.

https://floodlightnews.org/new-jersey-data-center-federal-violation/

[BlueK]

"I don't like Elon Musk. So I don't believe the Chinese run bot farms to influence US social media."

Seems very rational

I didn't actually say that. But x also shouldn't automatically be taken at face value.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Of course there are. This doesn't sound like a sincere question. Certainly you can find reputable sources with a simple google search if I'm misreading your intent. As much as anything, common sense. How can there not be local negative effects of a pulling more energy into a concentrated site than an entire state uses. Power, sound, heat, waste, low job creation, etc.

The real argument is whether the negatives are offset by the benefit of data centers. Pulling China into the argument is a red herring.

China pulled itself into the argument.

there may be some legitimate concerns about data centers, but there’s a whole lot of pure BS out there too, and China is amplio it.

[chrisrenrut]

China pulled itself into the argument.

there may be some legitimate concerns about data centers, but there’s a whole lot of pure BS out there too, and China is amplio it.

How did China pull itself into the argument? Seems like Kevin O’Leary, and then X was pulled China in.

[frank ryan]

EMDS

Cheap response, and not exactly a useful one.


What are your reasons for finding Elon credible?? Elon is squarely in Trump's camp and bankrolled the hell out of his campaign.

And what was deranged about my comment that Musk doesn't merit default trust?

[frank ryan]

What are the valid concerns about data centers?

Because of companies like Palantir