Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Meta steals a tactic from Tesla and builds data centers in tents

techcrunch.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

91–100 of 138 posts

Re: Meta steals a tactic from Tesla and builds data centers in tents

#91

Post by daedrdev »

unknownfuture wrote: post #49
code_biologist wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your language is ambiguous — your horror is in reference to natural gas turbine generators (used at these installations) and not gasoline generators (like in a home context)? Why the horror? I'd prefer the gas remain in the ground, but given the gassy production of US shale oil, I guess I'd rather it be used for this than just flared. I am frustrated that pollutant emissions aren't being policed, and also that the su…

I'd prefer they use cheap and available renewables rather than accelerating climate change. But to each their own I guess. (And to head it off at the pass: if that can't be done then this should be done at all)

There is currently 2x us electricity production in solar and batteries stuck in permit hell due to the US requiring they pay for grid upgrades before connection in a first in first out line that has grown in length and costs.

We could have cheap and available renewables, but we instead destroy them in bureaucratic hell that nobody cares about.

Re: Meta steals a tactic from Tesla and builds data centers in tents

#92

Post by artisin »

Descon wrote: post #59
slicktux wrote: post #20

When I read the headline I imagined a huge tent with steel beam structure and professional grade covers with HVAC and concrete footprint. Seems everyone else imagined a camping tent. Different backgrounds I guess.

Those look like sprung structures's tents. They can get real fancy: https://www.sprung.com/

WoW. I was thinking about building a new home recently, but now I'm thinking about pitching a membrane-tensioned tax haven, cuz last time I checked, temporary structures are exempt from property taxes. This is like the ultimate real estate hack.

Re: Meta steals a tactic from Tesla and builds data centers in tents

#93

Post by Grombobulous »

Karrot_Kream wrote: post #63
emsign wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How about not powering them at all.

And what happens when something you politically approve of needs power?

Political approval is the basis of societal consent. A whole lot of things are allowed/disallowed based on political approval.

Zoning laws, noise ordinances, toxic waste disposal, food safety standards, etc.

I can't run a frozen lasagna factory from my house. It's illegal. I don't have political approval.

If the people do not approve of data centers, they don't get built. Simple as that. Businesses do not have an inherent right to exist. Businesses are granted their existence and places of operation by the state and local municipalities that license them.

Re: Meta steals a tactic from Tesla and builds data centers in tents

#94

Post by kylehotchkiss »

luk212 wrote: post #58

So AI infrastructure buildout is starting to feel a lot like emergency industrial mobilization... Also, building rapid temp shells plus nearby gas turbines paints a very different picture than the one conveyed by the "clean-energy" PR around hyperscale data centers.

Our parents aren't getting enough AI generated patriotic calls to action! roll out the bulldozers!!

Re: Meta steals a tactic from Tesla and builds data centers in tents

#95

Post by thepryz »

root-parent wrote: post #87
jzymbaluk wrote: post #25

The fact that these behemoths are being powered by gas generators is horrifying

Illegal gas turbines, should be noted...

Elon's was definitely illegal/unpermitted gas turbines as countless news stories that came out can attest but do you have any support to claim Meta's turbines are?

Re: Meta steals a tactic from Tesla and builds data centers in tents

#96

Post by Karrot_Kream »

Grombobulous wrote: post #93
Karrot_Kream wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And what happens when something you politically approve of needs power?

Political approval is the basis of societal consent. A whole lot of things are allowed/disallowed based on political approval. Zoning laws, noise ordinances, toxic waste disposal, food safety standards, etc. I can't run a frozen lasagna factory from my house. It's illegal. I don't have political approval. If the people do not approve of data centers, they don't get built. Simple as that. Businesses do not have an inh…

You're right. Of course political approval tends to involve a few more people than a couple dissenting commenters on a ratioed HN comment thread, depending on the regime in question. Pretty sure the entities in question had business licenses as well.

Re: Meta steals a tactic from Tesla and builds data centers in tents

#97

Post by qingcharles »

artisin wrote: post #92
Descon wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Those look like sprung structures's tents. They can get real fancy: https://www.sprung.com/

WoW. I was thinking about building a new home recently, but now I'm thinking about pitching a membrane-tensioned tax haven, cuz last time I checked, temporary structures are exempt from property taxes. This is like the ultimate real estate hack.

Governments hate this one trick!

Re: Meta steals a tactic from Tesla and builds data centers in tents

#98

Post by diordiderot »

Grombobulous wrote: post #89
unknownfuture wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd prefer they use cheap and available renewables rather than accelerating climate change. But to each their own I guess. (And to head it off at the pass: if that can't be done then this should be done at all)

Exactly, especially the case when solar+battery are so similar in cost to gas turbine: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cost_of_electricity_by_source#...

Land permitting is tough maybe why they use tents

Re: Meta steals a tactic from Tesla and builds data centers in tents

#99

Post by diordiderot »

WarmWash wrote: post #66
arjie wrote: post #34

The whole thing is like a video game: your construction and power are your limiting factors. We need to CONSTRUCT ADDITIONAL PYLONS and so on. It's interesting that this is such a limiter on the ground that SpaceX is pursuing AI satellites in space. Truly an incredible time to be alive.

The only thing SpaceX is pursuing is dumb money.

Get some skin in the game then smart guy

Re: Meta steals a tactic from Tesla and builds data centers in tents

#100

Post by MithrilTuxedo »

daedrdev wrote: post #91
unknownfuture wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd prefer they use cheap and available renewables rather than accelerating climate change. But to each their own I guess. (And to head it off at the pass: if that can't be done then this should be done at all)

There is currently 2x us electricity production in solar and batteries stuck in permit hell due to the US requiring they pay for grid upgrades before connection in a first in first out line that has grown in length and costs. We could have cheap and available renewables, but we instead destroy them in bureaucratic hell that nobody cares about.

Are they connecting gas generators to the grid?
Post reply on HN