#Texans are demanding their local governments push pause on #DataCenters . Can they?

Texans from #WacoTX to #HarlingenTX are raising concerns over how much energy and water data centers are poised to use. Local officials, some enticed by a tax boon, say they have little power to stop the rush.

By Berenice Garcia and Sam Shaw, The Waco Bridge, Feb. 13, 2026

Excerpt: "From #AmarilloTX to Waco, #CollegeStationTX to Harlingen, Texans are raising concerns over the proliferation of data centers — and the tremendous amounts of water and energy they are poised to suck up.

"Seemingly overnight, these sprawling campuses of computer servers meant to store information from websites and power artificial intelligence are popping up all over the state.

Just this month, the largest proposed data center in the U.S. was approved in Pecos County. That follows the start of construction of a $500 billion data center on the outskirts of Abilene and a planned 5,800-acre project in the Texas Panhandle that will include the world’s “largest energy campus,” according to its backers.

Together with more modest proposals near Waco, and just outside of Harlingen, Texas is emerging as a contender to challenge Virginia’s dominance in data centers.

In many of these places, Texans are demanding local elected officials intervene."

Read more:
https://www.texastribune.org/2026/02/13/texas-data-centers-local-governments-power/

#NoWaterForDatacenters #DatacenterResistance #NoWaterForAI #NoEnergyForAI #AISucks #WaterIsLife #USPol #TexasPol #ResistAI #ResistDatacenters

#Datacenter builders thought #farmers would willingly sell land, learn otherwise

Even in a fragile farm economy, million-dollar offers can’t sway dedicated farmers.

Ashley Belanger – Feb 23, 2026

Excerpt: "For 'Silicon Valley executives,' rural areas are likely attractive due to 'weak zoning protections, cheap power, and abundant water,' The Guardian reported.

"It likely doesn’t help to sell the farmers these deals when they tend to come out of nowhere, following a knock on the door from a middleman who doesn’t make it clear who wants to buy the land or how the land would be used.

"One 82-year-old Kentucky woman, Ida Huddleston, turned away a 'Fortune 500 company' offering $33 million for 650 acres. NBC News reported that several of her neighbors received similar offers. Huddleston joined at least five other residents in the county who refused to move forward after learning they’d have to sign a non-disclosure agreement just to find out who they would be dealing with. Ultimately, Huddleston had to search public records to figure out that a data center was even being planned in the area, The Guardian reported. The #LackOfTransparency is a problem, farmers have said, because what buyers want to do with the land matters.

" 'You don’t have enough to buy me out,' Huddleston told the company representatives when rejecting the deal. 'I’m not for sale. Leave me alone, I’m satisfied.' "

Read more:
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/02/im-not-for-sale-farmers-refuse-to-take-millions-in-data-center-deals/

Archived version:
https://archive.ph/DB229

#Datacenters #LandIsLife #NoDatacentersOnFarms #NoAI
#AISucks #NoWaterForAI
#NoNukesForAI #SendTechBrosToMars #NoMoreDatacenters #WaterIsLife #USPol

Not just water and power, but apparently ALL OF THE COMPUTER CHIPS!

The #DataLords Are Taxing Our Water and Power to Build Their Castles | Common Dreams

https://www.commondreams.org/opinion/data-lords-water-power

#NoAI #AISucks #NoWaterForAI #NoNukesForAI #SendTechBrosToMars

#Arizona city unanimously rejects #AI #DataCenter after residents' outcry

Story by Alex Nitzberg, 12/12/2025

"The #ChandlerAZ, city council voted unanimously Thursday against clearing the way for construction of an AI data center.

"Cheers and applause erupted after the unanimous vote outcome was announced.

"Ahead of the vote, multiple people delivered remarks to register their opposition to the prospect of allowing the construction of the center, and some in the audience held signs opposing the proposed project.

"Some people held up signs that read, 'NO MORE DATACENTERS.'

"Former U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema had been lobbying in favor of the proposed project.

"During an Oct. 15 Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, she spoke out in support of allowing the project to proceed, noting she was there on behalf of Active Infrastructure and that she is co-chair of the #AIInfrastructureCoalition.

"#ActiveInfrastructure is the developer that had been pushing for the project.

" 'Chandler right now has the opportunity to determine how and when these new, innovative AI data enters will be built. When federal preemption comes, we'll no longer have that privilege,' Sinema warned.

The Planning and Zoning Commission voted 5-1 at that October meeting in favor of recommending approval of rezoning for the project."

Source:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/arizona-city-unanimously-rejects-ai-data-center-after-residents-outcry/ar-AA1SfoA1

#NoMoreDatacenters #WaterIsLife #Arizona #USPol #NoWaterForAI

Ummmm... Earth Has Tilted 31.5 Inches. That Shouldn’t Happen. Can we fix it back?

By Tim Newcomb, Published: Nov 15, 2025

Here’s what you’ll learn when you read this story:

- When humans pump #groundwater, it has a substantial impact on the tilt of Earth’s rotation.
- Additionally, a study documents just how much of an influence groundwater pumping has on #ClimateChange.
- Understanding this relatively recent data may provide a better understanding of how to help stave off #SeaLevelRise."

"NASA research published in 2016 alerted us to the fact that the distribution of water can change the Earth’s rotation. This study in Geophysical Research Letters attempts to add some hard figures to that realization. 'I’m very glad to find the unexplained cause of the rotation pole drift,' Seo says. 'On the other hand, as a resident of Earth and a father, I’m concerned and surprised to see that pumping groundwater is another source of sea-level rise.'

"The study included data from 1993 through 2010, and showed that the pumping of as much as 2,150 gigatons of groundwater has caused a change in the Earth’s tilt of roughly 31.5 inches. The pumping is largely for irrigation and human use, with the groundwater eventually relocating to the oceans.
In the study, researchers modeled observed changes in the drift of Earth’s rotational pole and the movement of water. Across varying scenarios, the only model that matched the drift was one that included 2,150 gigatons of groundwater distribution."

Read more:
https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/environment/a69445743/why-earth-has-tilted-scientific-reason/

Archived version:
archive.ph/LgKrm

#WaterIsLife #Datacenters #Groundwater #Aquifers #PlanetEarth #LoveYourMotherEarth #LoveYourMother #NoWaterForAI #Fracking #WaterUsage #WaterDisplacement

Where ‘#DayZeroDroughts’ could happen as soon as this decade

Story by Laura Paddison, September 23, 2025

Excerpt: "Cities are particularly at risk as booming populations increase demand on water resources already under pressure from #ClimateChange and mismanagement. Low-income communities are expected to be disproportionately affected, the study found.

"Some parts of the world, including the Mediterranean, southern Africa, Asia and Australia, are projected to endure more prolonged day-zero drought events with less time between each one, limiting their ability to recover, the report found. This can have devastating effects on agriculture and ecosystems, and for some particularly badly affected areas, it throws into question 'whether people might still be able to live there long term,' Franzke said.

The findings point to the clear need to speed up the clean energy transition, he said, as well as improve water management — huge amounts are wasted through leaky pipes, for example.

"The research should also guide industry, he added, pointing to the proliferation of water-guzzling #SemiconductorManufacturing and #DataCenters in water-stressed areas such as #Texas and #Arizona."

Read more:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/where-day-zero-droughts-could-happen-as-soon-as-this-decade/

#WaterIsLife #Rainbarrels #WaterManagement #GreywaterSystems #Greywater #Graywater #WaterConservation #NoWaterForAI #NoWaterForDatacenters #AISucks #ClimateChange #Drought #FossilFuels #DayZero

Is the #GenerativeAI bubble about to burst?

by Matthew Tyson, Aug 20, 2025

Excerpt: "The AI money trap

"We don’t have to look far for a more contrarian perspective. Economist Paul Kedrosky, for one, notes that capital expenditure on data centers has driven 1.2% of national GDP, acting as a kind of stimulus program. Without that investment, he writes, the US economy would be in contraction.

"Kedrosky describes an 'AI #datacenter spending program' that is 'already larger than peak telecom spending (as a percentage of GDP) during the dot-com era, and within shouting distance of peak 19th century railroad infrastructure spending.'

"Virtually all #AI spend flows into #Nvidia in one way or another. This is reflected in its recent valuation as the first publicly traded company to break $4 trillion in market capitalization (second up was #Microsoft).

"To put that number in context, market observers such as Forbes described it as being greater than the GDP of Canada or the annual global spending on defense.

"Nvidia alone accounts for more than 7% of the value of the S&P 500. AI gadfly Ed Zitron calls it the 'AI money trap.' "

https://www.infoworld.com/article/4041556/is-the-generative-ai-bubble-about-to-burst.html

#AI #AISucks #DotComBubble #DotCom #AICrash #Greed #NoWaterForAI

#DataCentres to be expanded across #UK as concerns mount

Zoe Kleinman & Krystina Shveda, August 22, 2025

"The number of data centres in the UK is set to increase by almost a fifth, according to figures shared with BBC News.

"Data centres are giant warehouses full of powerful computers used to run digital services from #MovieStreaming to online banking - there are currently an estimated 477 of them in the UK.

"Construction researchers Barbour ABI have analysed planning documents and say that number is set to jump by almost 100, as the growth in artificial intelligence (AI) increases the need for processing power.

"The majority are due to be built in the next five years.

"However, there are concerns about the huge amount of energy and water the new data centres will consume.

"Some experts have warned it could drive up prices paid by consumers.

"More than half of the new data centres would be in #London and neighbouring counties.

"Many are privately funded by US #TechGiants such as #Google and #Microsoft and major investment firms.
A further nine are planned in #Wales, one in #Scotland, five in #GreaterManchester and a handful in other parts of the UK, the data shows.

"While the new data centres are mostly due for completion by 2030, the biggest single one planned would come later - a £10-billion AI data centre in #Blyth, near #Newcastle, for the American private #investment and wealth management company #BlackstoneGroup.

"It would involve building 10 giant buildings covering 540,000 square meters - the size of several large shopping centres - on the site of a former Blyth Power Station.

"Works are set to begin in 2031 and last for more than three years.

"Microsoft is planning four new data centres in the UK at a total cost of £330 million, with an estimated completion between 2027 and 2029 - two in the Leeds area, one near #Newport in Wales, and a five-storey site in #Acton, north west London.

"And Google is building two data centres, totalling £450m, spread over 400,000 sq m in north east London in the #LeeValley water system."

Read more:
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyr9nx0jrzo

Archived version:
https://archive.ph/GukDh

#BigTech #Datacenters #AISucks #NoisePollution #WaterIsLife #NoWaterForAI #NoNukesForAI

HT @gerrymcgovern

"In 2023, Google operations worldwide consumed 6.4 billion gallons of water (24.2 billion liters), with 95%, 6.1 billion gallons (23.1 billion liters), used by data centers. Google reports that in 2024, the company’s data center in Council Bluffs, Iowa, consumed 1 billion gallons of water (3.8 billion liters), the most of any of its data centers."

https://www.digitalinformationworld.com/2025/08/inside-water-crisis-of-data-centers.html

#WaterIsLife #NoWaterForAI #AISucks #Datacenters

#Alberta Municipality Declares #FarmDisaster Due to #Drought, Approves Water-Guzzling #DataCentre Plan

Jody MacPherson, July 31, 2025

"An Alberta municipality that declared an agricultural disaster earlier this month due to drought is moving forward with plans to host the 'largest #AI computer data centre on Earth,' which could drain millions of litres of water every day from the watershed.

"The watershed is located in #Treaty8 territory and across the #MétisNation of #Alberta Regions 4, 5, and 6. Almost 175,000 people live along the 1,900 kilometers of rivers that flow north into the #NorthwestTerritories. The nearest #FirstNation to the project, #SturgeonLakeCreeNation, wrote an open 'cease and desist' letter to Alberta’s premier saying it learned of the project through the media.

"In response to emailed questions from The Energy Mix, the Municipal District of #Greenview said its approach on the $70-billion #WonderValley data centre project proposed by #CelebrityInvestor #KevinOLeary had not changed despite the unfolding disaster devastating livestock producers in the region.

" 'Every project in the Greenview Industrial Gateway, including Wonder Valley, must go through rigorous environmental and regulatory reviews, including water use approvals managed by the province,' according to an email statement from the municipality. 'Council continues to monitor drought impacts, and any decisions on industrial water use will balance environmental responsibility with economic opportunity.' [I CALL BULLSHIT!]

"Greenview declared the agricultural disaster due to the ongoing drought, aggravated by a #grasshopper invasion. 'We urge all levels of government and the public to understand the gravity of the situation and to support the #agricultural community through this difficult time,' the community said in a media release.
Our producers are the backbone of not only our local economy, but also Alberta’s and #Canada’s, and they need our full support now more than ever.' "

https://www.theenergymix.com/alberta-municipality-declares-farm-disaster-due-to-drought-approves-water-guzzling-data-centre-plan/

#WaterIsLife #AlbertaDrought #NoWaterForAI #AISucks #FarmingDisaster #FoodIsLife #DataCenters #CanPol #FirstNations