I feel as if the Stafford County BOS are so terrified of getting sued and will do anything in their power to avoid a lawsuit. I try to understand the justification here and want to understand what it is like being in their shoes. However, I don't see how it would ever be justified as a good strategy in which to lead a county. I really hope they will consider a pause as well but I don't see it happening. Regardless, I will continue annoying the crap out of all of my representatives to push for slowing down and advocating for better standards and protections for residents and our beautiful watersheds.
Thanks for another great article. Literally at the moment you posted it I was taking my seat in a packed village hall as our community met to discuss opposition to the plan for a nearby mega AI datacentre. I am in Scotland and there are 23 such sites here, at various stages of planning, 12 of which are on ‘Green belt’ land. These would have a colossal impact on our power and water provision, not to mention local wildlife. At the meeting we discussed the terrible experiences of some in Virginia who live in the vicinity of these monstrosities - you have our sympathy and solidarity. We are now pushing for a moratorium also. More power to you.
PS “If you ever feel like you are too small to make a difference, try going to bed with a mosquito in the room”. Anita Roddick
You have no idea how much this means to us! Thank you for reading and commenting. We are truly all in this together. No more exploitation of public resources for private gain. Pulling for you, too! Love from across the pond.
Scotland is my family's home away from home. I'd love to hear more about what you are all experiencing in regards to data centers and hyperscale development. Scotland is so beautiful and it hurts my heart to hear that it is in danger as well. Major respect and appreciation to you and others on the ground fighting the good fight.
It seems like there is a melding of issues happening now between runaway AI safety and environmental/community concerns. And it is starting to feel for the majority like we don't know, our have control over, where it is all going. We seem to be careening. A pause makes sense, at least while we get out crap together. I don't know why these issues aren't talked about more by our leaders.
If I recall correctly, one NW state passed legislation that now requires data centers' cost for electricity to be not less than the rate paid by residents. Some have additionally urged that data centers fund escrow accounts that in effect provide for future electricity costs per the predicted life of the data centers. For sure, I do not support the intrusion of data centers into our lives, but ideas such as the two I've noted can provide some "wiggle room" if not outright halt the construction of such monstrosities. Thoughts?
Those ideas are great and would certainly be an improvement over the current situation, where, as in so many things today, we have the public resources and public monies being exploited for private gain. Of course, the big environmental problems wouldn’t be solved by such reforms. If you are local, we have a panel on exactly this issue Thursday night at the downtown library at 6:30! Thanks for reading and commenting, William.
An article that couldn't be more timely! We have overshot our capacity and are at a tipping point. In addition to the current groundswell of overwhelming opposition from citizens, the scientific community, and advocacy groups, we now have the strongest language yet from some of our elected officials. It's about time. Will we wake up before it's too late? We need to continue to relentlessly pressure our officials to make that a reality. Future generations depend on it.
I feel as if the Stafford County BOS are so terrified of getting sued and will do anything in their power to avoid a lawsuit. I try to understand the justification here and want to understand what it is like being in their shoes. However, I don't see how it would ever be justified as a good strategy in which to lead a county. I really hope they will consider a pause as well but I don't see it happening. Regardless, I will continue annoying the crap out of all of my representatives to push for slowing down and advocating for better standards and protections for residents and our beautiful watersheds.
Thanks for taking the time to write this article!
Thanks for another great article. Literally at the moment you posted it I was taking my seat in a packed village hall as our community met to discuss opposition to the plan for a nearby mega AI datacentre. I am in Scotland and there are 23 such sites here, at various stages of planning, 12 of which are on ‘Green belt’ land. These would have a colossal impact on our power and water provision, not to mention local wildlife. At the meeting we discussed the terrible experiences of some in Virginia who live in the vicinity of these monstrosities - you have our sympathy and solidarity. We are now pushing for a moratorium also. More power to you.
PS “If you ever feel like you are too small to make a difference, try going to bed with a mosquito in the room”. Anita Roddick
You have no idea how much this means to us! Thank you for reading and commenting. We are truly all in this together. No more exploitation of public resources for private gain. Pulling for you, too! Love from across the pond.
Hello there!
Scotland is my family's home away from home. I'd love to hear more about what you are all experiencing in regards to data centers and hyperscale development. Scotland is so beautiful and it hurts my heart to hear that it is in danger as well. Major respect and appreciation to you and others on the ground fighting the good fight.
Clan Gordon - Bydand!
Feel free to email me - jesse@waterwaycleanups.org
It seems like there is a melding of issues happening now between runaway AI safety and environmental/community concerns. And it is starting to feel for the majority like we don't know, our have control over, where it is all going. We seem to be careening. A pause makes sense, at least while we get out crap together. I don't know why these issues aren't talked about more by our leaders.
If I recall correctly, one NW state passed legislation that now requires data centers' cost for electricity to be not less than the rate paid by residents. Some have additionally urged that data centers fund escrow accounts that in effect provide for future electricity costs per the predicted life of the data centers. For sure, I do not support the intrusion of data centers into our lives, but ideas such as the two I've noted can provide some "wiggle room" if not outright halt the construction of such monstrosities. Thoughts?
Those ideas are great and would certainly be an improvement over the current situation, where, as in so many things today, we have the public resources and public monies being exploited for private gain. Of course, the big environmental problems wouldn’t be solved by such reforms. If you are local, we have a panel on exactly this issue Thursday night at the downtown library at 6:30! Thanks for reading and commenting, William.
An article that couldn't be more timely! We have overshot our capacity and are at a tipping point. In addition to the current groundswell of overwhelming opposition from citizens, the scientific community, and advocacy groups, we now have the strongest language yet from some of our elected officials. It's about time. Will we wake up before it's too late? We need to continue to relentlessly pressure our officials to make that a reality. Future generations depend on it.