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New Amazon Data Center Is Set to Have the Most Polluting Power Plant in the U.S.

nytimes.com

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Re: New Amazon Data Center Is Set to Have the Most Polluting Power Plant in the U.S.

#211

Post by DennisP »

verandaguy wrote: post #96
vineyardmike wrote: post #9

Those in power seem to think that a compute advantage is necessary to maintain economic advantage. Despite this, the voters universally hate data centers, so much so that both NY and TX have data center construction moratoriums. Despite this, those in power refuse any environmentally aware energy policy nor water policy. Despite this, companies have been trying to be environmentally aware for either moral or marketin…

The environment's already lost. We've passed the 1.5ºC deviation mark from the pre-industrial global average, and we're on track to hit 3ºC in a few more decades. The excess deaths and human misery (both that which is increasingly clearly ongoing, and we have to look forward to) are going to be tragic.

Yes, but there's still a range of possible outcomes, depending on what we do next.

Re: New Amazon Data Center Is Set to Have the Most Polluting Power Plant in the U.S.

#212

Post by goatlover »

ipaddr wrote: post #162
mschuster91 wrote: post #117

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Will my kids be an ethnic minority in their own country in the next generation I didn’t expect having to read great replacement bullshit on Hacker News. JFC do some napkin math, it’s utter nonsense.

[flagged]

What if I told you the history of humanity is migration and mixing? That populations don't stay the same over time? That there were even other hominids sharing the planet with for a long time, some of which migrated to places before we did.

Re: New Amazon Data Center Is Set to Have the Most Polluting Power Plant in the U.S.

#213

Post by goatlover »

k33n wrote: post #195
octocop wrote: post #7

Bitcoin received a lot of backslash due to its power usage and ecological footprint. It's obvious that HN users don't have the same criticisms towards AI data centers. Maybe someone with a short position will coordinate that communication soon..

It’s worth noting that the ideological drive to create more energy-neutral crypto schemes resulted in trillions of dollars in fraud and no value created. Same as it always is with climate extremism. Always a cash grab.

What is climate extremism? Because it doesn't seem like the world is actually doing much to combat climate change as we see more fires and more extreme weather while still clinging to the old fossil fuel economy as long as possible.

Re: New Amazon Data Center Is Set to Have the Most Polluting Power Plant in the U.S.

#214

Post by embedding-shape »

parineum wrote: post #165
embedding-shape wrote: post #138

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Where are you getting the information that it's unauthorized (or needs to be authorized)? https://www.selc.org/press-release/naacp-asks-court-for-emer... and the previous link I referenced. One would think if there is even a suspicion (even if it hasn't been ruled in court yet) about large-scale harmful toxic emissions, the police and relevant authorities would at least quickly do some samples or what not, to figur…

The NAACP claims don't amount to facts.

Indeed, but they do amount to "suspicion" and are worth investigating instead of saying "Lets wait years until the courts decided if it is or isn't actually polluting" and not shutting it down until they've clearly demonstrated it being safe or not.

Re: New Amazon Data Center Is Set to Have the Most Polluting Power Plant in the U.S.

#215

Post by cogman10 »

quickthrowman wrote: post #208
_DeadFred_ wrote: post #141

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do Alfalfa growers traditionally use limited (and funded at large expense by the local community) municipal water hookups to grow their crops? Are alfalfa growers asking for new water hookup permits to access these resources? Because DCs are, and that is the concern local communities have. Not random comparative statistics whose purpose seems to be to take valid local community concerns and pretend they're just a jok…

> Do Alfalfa growers traditionally use limited (and funded at large expense by the local community) municipal water hookups to grow their crops? Are alfalfa growers asking for new water hookup permits to access these resources? No, you already know they use flood irrigation. Why is a municipal water system allowing a data center connection that will strain their distribution network? They’re well within their rights…

> Why is a municipal water system allowing a data center connection that will strain their distribution network? They’re well within their rights to say no, Mark Zuckerberg isn’t holding a gun to their heads.

Deep pockets have a way of bypassing practical concerns. [1]

Zuckerberg likely isn't holding a gun to their heads, instead it's more likely he's putting wads of cash in their pockets.

[1] https://www.texastribune.org/2026/03/08/texas-corpus-christi...

Re: New Amazon Data Center Is Set to Have the Most Polluting Power Plant in the U.S.

#216

Post by edmundsauto »

ipaddr wrote: post #162
mschuster91 wrote: post #117

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Will my kids be an ethnic minority in their own country in the next generation I didn’t expect having to read great replacement bullshit on Hacker News. JFC do some napkin math, it’s utter nonsense.

[flagged]

It’s interesting how you zero in on skin color rather than culture. Many of the other dog whistles at least try to focus on culture and religion, but you went right ahead to equate skin color as being the issue. Bravo!

Re: New Amazon Data Center Is Set to Have the Most Polluting Power Plant in the U.S.

#217

Post by rjrjrjrj »

stockresearcher wrote: post #178
quentindemetz wrote: post #139

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That the only nation which sent man on the moon uses acre-feet as a unit of volume blows my mind

Oh sure, I can help. 1000 acre feet is approximately 40 hectare meters. Or, you know, about 1.2 billion liters. Over on this side of the ocean, we’ve got freshwater lakes larger than entire European countries. There’s a lake over here, it has an island on it. That island has a lake, which has an island in it. And there’s a lake on that island. We need units of measurement that represent large things. If you don’t, th…

1.2 billion litres = 1200 megalitres = 1.2 gigalitres

Works well in places that need to represent things large and small. Europe, Canada, Australia, and pretty much everywhere else.

But enjoy your cubic furlongs and tablespoons.

Re: New Amazon Data Center Is Set to Have the Most Polluting Power Plant in the U.S.

#218

Post by embedding-shape »

throwaway173738 wrote: post #180
embedding-shape wrote: post #138

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Where are you getting the information that it's unauthorized (or needs to be authorized)? https://www.selc.org/press-release/naacp-asks-court-for-emer... and the previous link I referenced. One would think if there is even a suspicion (even if it hasn't been ruled in court yet) about large-scale harmful toxic emissions, the police and relevant authorities would at least quickly do some samples or what not, to figur…

Do you know the difference between civil law and criminal law? The police don’t care if they’re not violating a criminal statute. If you want to test how it works, build a brand new house in a city without pulling any permits.

I do indeed. Do you know that severe violations of civil law sometimes amount of up to criminal law, especially if there is evidence of criminal intent or "knowing" violations of the law but proceeding anyway?

This is the case for lots of things. Negligence can turn into "reckless disregard for human life", breach of contract could amount to fraud, and many other cases.

Re: New Amazon Data Center Is Set to Have the Most Polluting Power Plant in the U.S.

#219

Post by verandaguy »

DennisP wrote: post #211
verandaguy wrote: post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The environment's already lost. We've passed the 1.5ºC deviation mark from the pre-industrial global average, and we're on track to hit 3ºC in a few more decades. The excess deaths and human misery (both that which is increasingly clearly ongoing, and we have to look forward to) are going to be tragic.

Yes, but there's still a range of possible outcomes, depending on what we do next.

You'll forgive me for harbouring some pessimism about current world leaders' climate strategy.

Re: New Amazon Data Center Is Set to Have the Most Polluting Power Plant in the U.S.

#220

Post by bdangubic »

xyzelement wrote: post #156
Hnrobert42 wrote: post #121

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Will my kids be an ethnic minority in their own country in the next generation - and if so, what's that going to be like for them? What about this is an essential concern for you? Like, what are the potential harms?

I think there are very few countries that can claim to have a good setup for an ethnic minority. Singapore, US, Israel, western Europe. Most of the world - being an ethnic minority sucks. As western Europe changes the ethnic western Europeans may not enjoy their treatment.

I would rather have my entire body waxed that be an ethnic minority for a month in the countries you listed (minus Singapore)
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