What exactly does a data center do? They're all over Florida
Data centers, which support digital infrastructures like generative AI and 'the cloud', are proliferating across the US, putting pressure on local communities with their high energy and water consumption. In Florida, numerous data centers are raising concerns about utility costs and environmental impacts.
Data centers are large facilities housing technology that supports digital infrastructures like generative AI and 'the cloud'. They have become increasingly important as computing resources have shifted from dispersed business locations to centralized cloud data centers. By 2018, approximately 89% of data center computing took place in larger cloud data centers. Data centers consume significant amounts of energy and water, with a single modern AI data center using as much power as 100,000 homes. This has led to rising opposition to data centers due to their environmental impacts, including increased utility costs for nearby residents and strain on the power grid. In the US, data centers are affecting communities in various ways, including soaring energy demand, higher utility bills, local water supply impacts, and air pollution.
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