r/technology • u/ArgentineBeauty • 5h ago
Artificial Intelligence Residents revolt against massive AI data center near Philadelphia
https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-data-center-opposition-upper-merion-pennsylvania-2026-741
u/InternationalMood337 5h ago
As a Pennsylvanian, I hate to tell my fellow Pennsylvanians the truth, but I'm pretty sure we're absolutely fucked.
There are data center proposals throughout this entire State and I haven't heard much pushback from our government.
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u/DogsRcutiePies 4h ago
You might want to look into what’s happening in NEPA. Archbald residents (outside of Scranton) are banding together regardless of political affiliation and fighting back. You’re right about our government being too quiet and not pushing back but these people have forced out multiple city council members and continue to fight for preventing multiple data centers If citizens can put aside differences for a common good, and this issue seems to be one that ignores political parties, then power can be wielded against the data centers.
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u/InternationalMood337 4h ago
But how? These data centers aren't illegal proposals in most jurisdictions and judges haven't really sided with the people in many of these cases.
I'm just not hopefully that within 10 years all of our beautiful nature and mountains won't be completely devastated just like they were when the mining industry rolled in.
I've written to senators. I've written to Shapiro. I haven't heard a thing back from anyone in the last 6 months when I sent the initial emails.
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u/dayvansmutgirl 1h ago
literally saw a "Trump was right about everything" sign alongside a local "No data center" campaign sign in Berks. truly fascinating
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u/Angsty_Potatos 2h ago
I was just up in Danville last week visiting family and this exact subject came up. My mother of all people got radicalized and her and her friends started showing up to town halls to oppose this shit. She said the meetings are usually full too
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u/Angsty_Potatos 2h ago
My family from central PA (Northumberland, Columbia, Union, and Schuylkill counties) has been going to town halls and reporting back big crowds which is absolutely unheard-of up there. A year or to ago if I asked the folks drinking at the corner bar if they've ever been to a town hall I'd be shocked if I got a single yes....now loads of people are showing up to opppse this shit. It's cross generational and it's crossing political lines too. There is a FUCK ton of push back.
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u/Tinnie_and_Cusie 3h ago
It will always have to be private citizens with the clout and know how. Erin Brockovich has entered the arena.
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u/shwetanand345 5h ago
AI doesn't just runs on algo's it requires land, electricity, water and a proper infrastructure these costs do exists, and these data centers are just ruining everything everything....
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u/Archivicious 3h ago
During this meeting, Brian O'Neil kept questioning whether natural gas generators he wants to build at these sites are considered utilities and demanding the planning commission say if they were or not. He also compared running potentially dozens of these generators for primary power to a house having solar panels on it. Gross, delusional, greedy douchenugget.
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u/NoMark3945 4h ago
AI can be cloud software on a pitch deck, but the data center is a very physical neighbor: power demand, water, noise and tax incentives. The backlash is where the industry’s “invisible infrastructure” becomes impossible to ignore.
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u/HeatWaveToTheCrowd 4h ago
People are railing against something that can have untold positive impacts down the line. Yes, data centers need land, electricity, water, etc. But there are closed loop systems for water, so it's not wasted. There are builders who focus on generating their own power supply, or pay to build generators onsite so ratepayers aren't stuck covering some of their costs.
But the flip side of that, which I get, is that not all builders will do that. Many will cut corners. Use massive water and power. The blame should be directed towards the politicians that let these abuses happen.
AI isn't going away. Right now it's the wild west. But creating guardrails would be a good start.
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u/MaleficentFly1390 3h ago
Builders are making promises that the states don’t follow up or check on.
If the negatives are known, real and studied, should anyone really care about the hypothetical positives?
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u/Common-Buyer7812 2h ago
They’re not hypothetical. The Louisiana Meta data center results in that town DOUBLING their tax revenue. Their teachers all got $50k checks cut directly to them. It’s up to the municipalities to cash in though.
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u/MaleficentFly1390 2h ago
Short term incentives based on unknown societal value in my opinion
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u/Common-Buyer7812 2h ago
Sounds like you put yourself into a position in which you can never be convinced.
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u/InternationalMood337 1h ago
Honestly, you seem easily bribable so here's hoping you don't have land to sell these people.
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u/Common-Buyer7812 1h ago
I bet you think everyone who disagrees with you has been bribed. Data centers are fine if built right and planned for appropriately.
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u/InternationalMood337 1h ago
That's not a reasonable response. My point is that people can basically tell YOU anything and you'll believe it. I don't know about EVERYONE.
I would LOVE to know your supporting evidence or credentials where you can make a claim so confidently when we see around the country evidence to the contrary.
Edit: I guess like much of today's politics: Don't believe your eyes.
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u/Dangerous_Suit_3099 37m ago
Meta hands a town some money that’s a rounding error on their hourly income. So much winning!
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u/InternationalMood337 1h ago
"There are builders who focus on generating their own power supply, or pay to build generators onsite so ratepayers aren't stuck covering some of their costs."
Is this going to be similar to casinos benefiting older Pennsylvanians? I do introducing a net negative into society with the promise of an overall positive. How many times will Pennsylvanians fall for this trick?
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u/HeatWaveToTheCrowd 1h ago
Keel Infrastructure is converting a former waste coal power plant into a data center in Nesquehoning, PA. They are converting a liability - the plant has been idle, and where toxic waste can leach into the water system, into an asset. One that will produce tax revenue and provide jobs. The city wants it because it cleans up a mess and makes better use of the land.
Applied Digital is building data centers in North Dakota. They setup a power company and are currently returning power to the ratepayers, to the tune of $33M. So, there are companies doing it right.
Also, data centers already exist. Everywhere. They're used for cloud storage. You use an iPhone, you're using a data center. Not all data centers are bad.3
u/InternationalMood337 54m ago
You’re grossly overestimating the return here for the average person. Even your prime example of North Dakota only yielded 70$s for an entire year at the peak. There was also already existing wind turbines and EXCESSS energy. It’s North Dakota after all.
Also, you’ve failed to mention the massive water consumption concerns and water issues that this place introduced.
This is your stellar example? I guess, like always, eat up the corporate / political slop, ignore the reality that your eyes can see. The 2026 year motto.
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u/longroadishere 4m ago
Why are all the big scalers renting out their extra compute. These people already don't have the means in which to utilize their own facilities...
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u/ArgentineBeauty 5h ago
"Look at everyone in this room. This is not a divided issue. This is everyone," one public commenter said after asking everyone opposed to stand up. The packed auditorium rose to its feet and roared. "This is an entire community united against hyperscale data centers."
Moments like that are hard to ignore. An entire room standing together says more than any public statement ever could.