Opposition to data centers helped propel Democratic candidates who
new construction to victory in last week's midterm elections.
asserted
who → propel → elections
More than half of voters said artificial intelligence and data centers were a significant factor in their votes, according to a CBS News exit poll.
uncertain
intelligence → say → poll
But one town says it has benefited from data centers, despite the pushback growing across the nation.
asserted
it → say → nation
For 20 years, Microsoft has operated its Columbia Data Center in Quincy, Washington, where Mayor Paul Worley told CBS News its presence has created "a kind of boom" for the area.
asserted
presence → operate → area
Additional tax revenue from the project has funded a new high school and hospital, and helped improve other critical services, he said.
asserted
he → fund → services
Microsoft president Brad Smith told CBS News about the pledge it makes to the communities where it builds and operates data centers.
asserted
it → tell → centers
"Basically, we will put the community first," he said.
asserted
he → put → community
"We will not do anything that will increase the electricity rates of our neighbors.
asserted
that → do → neighbors
We'll ensure that we replenish more water, we put more water back into the community than we use."
asserted
we → ensure → community
He also highlighted the role data centers play in powering every action we take on our phones and other connected devices.
asserted
we → highlight → phones
"Every time we tap on our phone, it's connecting through an app, it's pulling data from something like this," he said.
asserted
he → tap → this
The industry, he said, needs to better inform opponents of data centers about the essential services the facilities enable.
asserted
facilities → say → services
"They're part of daily life, just like electricity is," Smith said.
asserted
Smith → say → life
The nearby Columbia River provides hydropower that has led seven additional companies to choose Quincy for their data centers.
asserted
that → provide → centers
To accommodate the roughly two dozen data centers that have entered the area over the past two decades, some residents have been asked to vacate their homes.
asserted
residents → accommodate → homes
Electricity rates per kilowatt-hour have risen by roughly 55% over the past 20 years, according to the Grant County public utility.
uncertain
rates → rise → utility
While that marks a steep increase, it's still lower than the average increases in national and state electricity rates over the same period.
asserted
it → mark → period
In Washington, electricity rates rose 107% over the same time period.
asserted
rates → rise → period
Nationwide, they rose 66%.
asserted
they → rise → ?
Smith said he believes it is the company's "fundamental responsibility" to manage the industry's growth and the impact on residents' rising utility costs.
asserted
it → say → costs
"You can't make the challenges go away, but you can be broad-minded, you can [be] committed, and you can take steps to manage growth well," he said.
asserted
he → make → growth
For example, Microsoft pledges to replenish or give communities back more water than it uses.
asserted
it → pledge → water
It also commits to paying for its own electricity and ensuring that its usage doesn't increase neighbors' utility rates, Smith said.
asserted
Smith → commit → rates
He added that the facilities create local jobs, too, though many are
.According to Microsoft
uncertain
many → add → Microsoft
, the company employs roughly 700 people, or almost 9% of Quincy's roughly 8,000 residents.
asserted
company → employ → residents
Questions to ask
Yale professor of environmental and energy economics Kenneth Gillingham outlined the questions communities should ask data center developers before they come to town.
asserted
they → ask → town
They include:
- What type of technology is it using for cooling?
- How large will it be?
- How is it going to generate its electricity?
Meanwhile, Microsoft's Smith has a clear message for Americans who say they don't want data centers in their backyards.
asserted
they → include → backyards
"Give us a chance to talk through what we want to do, and give us a chance to prove that we can do this in a way that will put the community first," he said.
asserted
he → give → community
"We have to persuade you.
asserted
We → have → you
But the people that you've elected, they're the ones who are gonna make a decision, not us."
asserted
who → elect → decision
The Aporia
