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‘ We’re up against forces that have all the money in the world’: Erin Brockovich on her battle against AI datacentres (www.theguardian.com)

submitted 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) by savvie@lemmy.zip to c/solarpunk@slrpnk.net

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. According to analysis by the Guardian, two-thirds of planned datacentres in the US are in drought-stricken areas. The larger centres need up to 5m gallons of water a day for cooling, equivalent to the average usage of 50,000 people. It is unclear what the plan is and whose needs will take priority between AI, agriculture and everyone else.

“People are reporting bill spikes,” [Erin]Brockovich says, reading an email from someone who says their monthly water bill went from $22 (£17) to more than $350 (£265). The threat of these centres is about more than money – it feels existential. “How will the water use disrupt the balance of nature? People are asking: “What will happen to us?”

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[–] grrgyle@slrpnk.net 17 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

That is indeed relevant, I didn't know that, and it makes me angrier about golf courses. But something to consider is this is 0.06% new water usage that is for building something most people are actively against.

I'm not saying give up on golf courses, but data centers is where the most ire is right now, so that additional water usage out of the blue (heh) is very worth bringing up when many people are worried about the future of access to water.

[–] ximtor@lemmy.zip 13 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

I would definitely say we should give up on fucking golf courses

[–] grrgyle@slrpnk.net 1 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

You a golfer? I know a few, and yeah, one of the reasons it's harder to go after golf courses imho is there are some regular folks who genuinely like to do it

[–] captain_aggravated@sh.itjust.works 4 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

I was born in, and raised near, Pinehurst. I can tell you from a lifetime of experience, there are no golfers that are simultaneously normal and good people. They're either abnormal or evil or both. Or they're alcoholics.

[–] grrgyle@slrpnk.net 3 points 3 weeks ago

I know of a handful of regular people who golf regularly, but it is true that they're all some kind of jerk. I just assumed it was a coincidence.

[–] tangentism@beehaw.org 3 points 3 weeks ago

At one time, people who didn't smoke were the outliers.

Make them feel like pariahs and that will soon change (and heavily tax golf courses on their water usage)

[–] AdolfSchmitler@lemmy.world 2 points 3 weeks ago

Wait until you learn Arizona has one of the most golf courses in the US.