United States🏛️ PolitikaBliže progresivnomprije 3 h
Pitali smo umjetnu inteligenciju gdje bi trebali biti podatkovni centri
Newsweek istražuje rastuću polemiku oko postavljanja data centara, koji su ključni za napajanje umjetne inteligencije, ali se suočavaju s značajnim otporom zajednice. Kada su upitani o optimalnim lokacijama, modeli umjetne inteligencije predložili su da se daju prednost područjima s dovoljnim izvorima energije i vode, izbjegavajući ekološki osjetljive zone i uključujući lokalne zajednice. Međutim, u praksi, brzo širenje infrastrukture umjetne inteligencije dovelo je do sukoba oko utjecaja na okoliš, korištenja resursa i lokalnog nadzora. Zajednice širom Virginije, Teksasa i drugih država izvještavaju o zabrinutosti zbog potrošnje električne energije, korištenja vode, buke i brzine regulatornih odobrenja. Ekološka aktivist Erin Brockovich sastavila je kartu koja prati ove objekte i dokumentira zabrinutosti zajednice. Dok zagovornici tvrde da data centri pružaju gospodarske poslove i porezne koristi, protivnici ističuju potencijalne negativne učinke na lokalno okruženje i kvalitetu života.
After months of intense debate, Virginia lawmakers failed to pass a bill that would have required data centers to meet clean energy standards, effectively ending a legislative effort aimed at holding the industry accountable for its environmental impact. On June 29, just two days before the deadline to pass a budget, the state approved a spending plan that maintains the current tax exemption for data centers and introduces a new, lower-value tax instead. This decision marks a significant setback for environmental advocates who sought to align the industry’s operations with sustainability goals. William Ward, a 53-year-old resident of Petersburg, Virginia, attended a rally organized by the Virginia League of Conservation Voters earlier this year. At the event, he learned about the growing strain that data centers place on the state’s electrical grid, the environmental damage caused by these facilities, and the rising electricity costs faced by everyday Virginians. He also became aware of the $1.9 billion in sales and use tax waivers granted to the data center industry in 2025. “It affects the common people,” Ward said. “We have to pay, they don’t have to pay. I understand we need data centers, but why here? They need to pay their fair share.” The initial proposal, introduced in February, aimed to link environmental protections to the tax exemption by imposing clean energy requirements on data centers. However, the plan encountered fierce opposition from lawmakers, who eventually opted to replace it with a new tax structure. The approved legislation creates a cap of $600 million per year on the new tax, which is roughly one-third of the value of the existing exemption. The law also mandates that a commission prepare a report by December 15 detailing the impacts of data centers and recommending changes to the tax exemption, mirroring a comprehensive study released less than two years ago. Additional provisions within the budget require reporting on electricity, water usage, and diesel backup generators, though many of these measures are already in progress. The legislation also includes rules for water-dependent cooling technologies used in data centers located in regions facing water shortages. However, these rules lack specific standards and allow for less conservative methods of evaporation-based cooling. Furthermore, the bill includes a provision addressing the potential economic impacts of data centers in historically economically disadvantaged communities, particularly when connecting to Dominion, Virginia’s largest electric utility. Lee Francis, chief program and communications officer at the Virginia League of Conservation Voters, expressed disappointment with the outcome. “What just passed didn’t make anybody’s life better,” he stated. “What lawmakers did was really went back on the original intent, which was to hold the industry accountable to strong environmental standards, and that’s no longer on the table.” Virginia, known as the data center capital of the world, hosts more of these facilities than any other state or country outside the U.S. The industry continues to grow rapidly, with many more planned. The tax exemption, established in 2008 to stimulate economic activity, waives a 4.3 to 7 percent levy on server and backup generator purchases. Major tech firms like Amazon, Microsoft, Google, and Meta have supported the exemption, which is utilized by approximately 90 percent of the industry. The expansion of data centers has prompted Dominion, Virginia’s largest electric utility, to approve its first new gas plant in years. Other fossil fuel developments may follow. Environmental and community advocates have pushed for an end to the exemption and stronger regulations to ensure the industry contributes fairly to public coffers. Their proposals were viewed as a model for other states seeking to address data center development responsibly. A 2024 study revealed that increased energy demands from data centers could lead to a $37 rise in monthly utility bills by 2040. As the demand for AI computing power grows, so does the pressure on communities to balance technological advancement with environmental and social considerations.
Kako je izvijestila svaka strana
Isti događaj, grupiran prema političkom nagibu medija koji su o njemu izvještavali.
progresivno
sredina
konzervativno
★
Kako je izvijestila svaka strana
Podržite neovisne vijesti svjesne pristranosti i otključajte društveni puls, glasovanje zajednice i svoj personalizirani feed Za tebe.
Google je najavio svoju najveću kupnju solarne energije i skladištenja baterije do danas, s prvim dvije faze projekta u Arkansasu koji generiraju dovoljno električne energije da zadovolje otprilike 6% najveće potražnje države. Projekat, nazvan Steel River Energy Center, snabdijevat će čistu energiju izravno u mrežu, pomažući Googleu da uskladiti svoju potrošnju električne energije s obnovljivim izvorima. Kada bude u potpunosti dovršen do 2029. godine, projekt u tri faze postat će najveći solarni objekt u SAD-u, s ukupnim kapacitetom od 1,8 gigavata solarne energije i 2,9 gigawatt-sat skladištenja baterije. Nasuprot tome, Elon Muskov xAI upravlja nepovlaštenom elektranom na prirodni plin u Mississippiju, koja emitira zagađenje neproporcionalno utječe na crne zajednice. Musk je nedavno stekao APR Energy, tvrtku specijaliziranu za prirodni plin, koja je nastavila ulaganja u fosilna goriva unatoč uz njegovu uključenost u Tesla, vođu u solarnoj tehnologiji i bateriji.
Procjena pristranosti (Progresivno): Članak uspoređuje Googleove investicije u obnovljive izvore energije s Elon Muskovim oslanjanjem na nepovlaštene postrojenja za proizvodnju prirodnog plina, naglašavajući zabrinutost za okoliš i socijalnu pravdu vezanu uz zagađenje u crnim zajednicama.
Zašto činjenice (95): The article accurately reports key details from the primary source including the location, size, and scope of the Steel River Energy Center. It correctly states the project's capacity, timeline, and partnership with Cypress Creek Energy. Minor discrepancies exist in specific numbers (e.g., 'about 6%
Zašto objektivnost (85): The article maintains a largely neutral tone, presenting facts without overtly favoring one energy source over another. It contrasts Google's project with xAI's gas plant but does so in a factual manner rather than through emotionally charged language.
Inside Climate NewsNeovisanProgresivnoČinjenice 80Objektivnost 70prije 4 dana
Zakonodavci u Virginiji nisu uspjeli donijeti zakon koji bi zahtijevao da podatkovni centri ispunjavaju standarde čiste energije, unatoč značajnoj zabrinutosti javnosti zbog njihovog utjecaja na okoliš i financijskih implikacija. Predložen zakon imao je za cilj riješiti pitanja poput povećanih troškova električne energije, opterećenja električne mreže i štete lokalnim ekosustavima. Umjesto toga, zakonodavci su uveli novi porez na potrošnju energije podatkovnih centara, koji godišnje stvara do 600 milijuna dolara, uz zadržavanje postojećeg izuzeća od poreza na prodaju od 1,9 milijardi dolara.
Procjena pristranosti (Progresivno): U članku se neispunjavanje zahtjeva za čistu energiju prikazuje kao izdaja ekološke odgovornosti, naglašavajući zabrinutost javnosti i kritiku kompromisa zakonodavca.
Zašto činjenice (80): The article accurately describes the Gulf states’ investment in AI and their reliance on Nvidia, referencing specific projects like Saudi Arabia’s Humain initiative and the UAE’s G42. It includes quotes from experts and details the geopolitical challenges faced by the region. However, it does not di
Zašto objektivnost (70): The article presents a largely descriptive account of the Gulf’s AI investments, focusing on the limitations imposed by geopolitical factors. While it provides factual information, it lacks a balanced discussion of potential solutions or alternative approaches, maintaining a somewhat one-sided narra
Newsweek istražuje rastuću polemiku oko postavljanja data centara, koji su ključni za napajanje umjetne inteligencije, ali se suočavaju s značajnim otporom zajednice. Kada su upitani o optimalnim lokacijama, modeli umjetne inteligencije predložili su da se daju prednost područjima s dovoljnim izvorima energije i vode, izbjegavajući ekološki osjetljive zone i uključujući lokalne zajednice. Međutim, u praksi, brzo širenje infrastrukture umjetne inteligencije dovelo je do sukoba oko utjecaja na okoliš, korištenja resursa i lokalnog nadzora. Zajednice širom Virginije, Teksasa i drugih država izvještavaju o zabrinutosti zbog potrošnje električne energije, korištenja vode, buke i brzine regulatornih odobrenja. Ekološka aktivist Erin Brockovich sastavila je kartu koja prati ove objekte i dokumentira zabrinutosti zajednice. Dok zagovornici tvrde da data centri pružaju gospodarske poslove i porezne koristi, protivnici ističuju potencijalne negativne učinke na lokalno okruženje i kvalitetu života.
Procjena pristranosti (Sredina): Članak predstavlja uravnotežen pogled na raspravu oko podatkovnih centara, naglašavajući kako ekonomske argumente u korist infrastrukture, tako i ekološke i socijalne brige koje su iznele zajednice.
★
Neka vijesti ostanu poštene.
ObjectiveNews financiraju čitatelji i bez oglasa je – pristranost vam pokazujemo, ne skrivamo. Podržite neovisno novinarstvo za 5 €/mjesec.