Can We Agree: Data Centers In Your Town
This is the audio version of 'Can We Agree?' Episode #5. "Can We Agree?" is the program that asks whether two brilliant minds from opposite corners of an argument can find any common ground on the questions that matter most to Americans today. Build or ban? Here's what every citizen should know before a giant AI data center gets built in their community. Debating the benefits and dangers of developing AI data centers in this episode of "Can We Agree?": Brian O'Neill, a Pennsylvania developer aiming to build $18 billion of data centers in the suburbs. He says one of his projects will pay over $30 million a year to the township's school district. That's $109,000 per teacher and $8,827 per student. He also makes the case for improved technology and providing high-paying community jobs that don't even require a high school degree. Abre’ Conner is director of the NAACP’s Center for Environmental and Climate Justice and is leading its federal lawsuit against Elon Musk’s xAI over the gas turbines powering a massive data center near Memphis. She says jobs cannot justify harm. What can they agree on? Is there a "right" way to build a data center? How reliable are claims about emissions and closed loop systems? What is the actual impact on communities, both environmentally and financially? Nobody leaves until they agree.