Refuse to subsidize data center abuses

This letter regards an article on June 18 titled, “Federal regulators order grid operators to speed power to energy-hungry AI data centers.” This represents a gross miscarriage of justice, which citizens should resist. The core business of data centers is unethical and the additional environmental stresses couldn’t come at a worse time.

Traditional data centers form the backbone of the internet. They record every click and therefore every decision we make electronically. These data are used for targeted advertising, which is a form of manipulation that drains money from people and transfers even more wealth to billionaires.

That’s not all, though. With the rise of AI data centers, these billionaires and trillion -dollar corporations are now directly targeting American jobs. This is a shocking development that strikes at the foundation of the American dream and way of life.

Furthermore, these data centers consume vast amounts of power and water, which forces utility companies to increase rates. The net effect is what has been called, “Rate payer subsidies,” where ordinary Americans are required to foot the bill in order to support the development of these behemoths.

The massive consumption of power and water is also reversing efforts to slow climate change. Our climate is changing rapidly and the addition of AI data centers has caused a recent uptick in greenhouse gas emissions. These effects fall disproportionately on those least able to afford it.

I strongly urge all citizens to write your representatives and senators and tell them that enough is enough. We refuse to subsidize trillion-dollar corporations and billionaires as they continue to pollute and suck up every dime that isn’t nailed down.

Myste Montesano

Downers Grove