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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.

#91

Post by sajithdilshan »

mft_ wrote: post #74
simianwords wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[flagged]

Have you tried to satisfy your open-minded curiosity on this question? A simple Google search brings up: https://lancetcountdown.org/2025-report/ A couple of excerpts from the front page, without even registering to access the full report: 1.1.5 Heat-related mortality Failure to curb the warming effects of climate change has seen the rate of heat-related deaths surge 23% since the 1990s, to 546,000 a year. 1.2.1 Wild…

One could argue that heat related deaths could be due to the fact that there are more old people alive right now compared to any point in time in human history due to high life expectancy and they are the most vulnerable to heatwaves. Had the percentage of younger population been higher, the numbers would have been different. Also in a way it’s Karma, that older population is the one that lived their lives like there’s no future and thought that climate change is a problem for younger generations and now they would be the first to die like flies

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

#92

Post by Jansemon »

simianwords wrote: post #51
OlivOnTech wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can find latest ipcc report (short version) here: https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/syr/downloads/report/IPCC_AR6... Please share your sources saying it's not getting worse.

[flagged]

What do you mean, "nowhere does it say that things get worse overall"? Do you need to get it explicitly spelled out for you to realize that the environment and ecosystems everywhere are under extreme stress (to say it mildly) and failing!?

Do you really believe, that the way humans are using resources and polluting everything, doesn't have any negative impact?

And why the hell would the GDP be ANY good measurement, since it does not include any environmental costs (if I don't need to correctly dispose of my trash and can burn it cheaper, I have an economic advantage in the way of less costs)?

And your OECD study: doesn't it specifically talk about economic impact if climate change measures ARE being implemented (especially emission reductions)? This of course makes sense, as this would imply massive investments in technologies and sectors. This source specifically does not make a case for climate change being not as bad as predicted or that it doesn't take place.

Looking at the current state of the world (especially ecosystems, which are extremely important for us), I really wonder how someone can make an argument, that it isn't as bad as it is made out to be. It is often way worse, as many things aren't really talked about in the open.

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

#93

Post by trentor »

Downvote me all you want. China is doing something right. Nuclear, renewables, whatever the mix, they're not parking gas turbines next to a data center and calling it a power strategy. That US tech companies reached for that first tells you everything. Speed over consequences, every time. And shut up about that China still fires a lot of coal. They are phasing it out... the right way.

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

#94

Post by wegwerper »

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…

A country is but the sum of its people - and this american people have gotten what they voted for.

Nice opportunity for the rest of the world, though.

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

#95

Post by petcat »

inigyou wrote: post #52
t0mas88 wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The overall American economy is going to pay the price in the long term. And current foreign policy is reducing trust in America as a reliable and stable partner, which will make things even worse.

Well yeah, it's basically locked in now that in 50 years America won't be a world power any more. It'll be in a similar place to Canada at best.

> It'll be in a similar place to Canada at best.

If Canada was a US state it would rank around 4th or 5th in terms of economic size and power. There's a lot of doomerism, but I seriously doubt the US is going to lose its top 4 or 5 economies in the next 50 years.

If you want to go really doomer, then I think it's actually more likely that Canada would become a US state instead of the US economy shrinking to the size of Canada.

But this is all nonsense talk anyway.

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

#96

Post by verandaguy »

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.

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

#97

Post by loloquwowndueo »

solenoid0937 wrote: post #61
inigyou wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How much water does a DC use?

Not much. 0.04% of US water production. For context, that's about 3% of the water consumption of our golf courses, and less than 1% of what we use to water our lawns.

Get off my lawn.

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

#98

Post by infecto »

lee_ars wrote: post #82
infecto wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[flagged]

[flagged]

The personal jab was unnecessary. If it’s because I called out your hyperbole it might have been better to try to educate me instead of trying to name call or be rude in every sentence. Hard to even read your response it starts so low. Sorry!

You’re also mixing up Texas energy policy with the engineering requirements of an AI data center. Those are different discussions.

The claim that Texas wind generation is “back to 2017 levels” isn’t supported by the data. Texas continues to add large amounts of wind and especially solar. Solar has been dominating though as a percentage of generation and wind has fallen behind. Wind input costs are up quite a bit since 2017-2021 era. I am sure some of this might have political motivations but if the economics are in solar companies are going to build solar farms.

The original point still stands: if you need guaranteed 24/7 on site power for a massive data center, gas turbines are a much more practical solution than trying to achieve the same reliability with wind, solar, and batteries. Your post is just a political derailment that does not hit why Amazon did what they did.

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

#99

Post by ianm218 »

orbifold wrote: post #13

All this AI doomerism is hiding the obvious and immediate harm that will cause a mass extinction event. Funnily enough people at Anthropic are predicting the end of the Anthropocene, completely absolving themselves from any responsibility for the actual reality that the Anthropocene is defined by human made geologically noticeable changes. Like causing a global climate catastrophe.

The existential risk people are worried about a much shorter timeline - like the next 5-10 years. Climate change is serious but very unlikely to lead to anything like ending the Anthropocene in the next 5 years.

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

#100

Post by infecto »

inigyou wrote: post #90
infecto wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[flagged]

> Please don't post comments saying that HN is turning into Reddit.

Eh you are posting hyperbole that has nothing to do with this thread. I made a single quip while furthering my position. Posting rules like you are doing are even worse. You have a downvote.
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