writen by Aubree Amback / opinion editor
As the usage of artificial intelligence is on the rise, so are data centers. There are many downsides to having a data center in our county, which might end up happening.
Right now, there is a committee of leaders in Hancock County trying to approve a data center in Hancock county.
There are many reasons this should not happen. It will directly affect the people of our county and cause countless problems.
Homes close to the centers are usually sharing the same water. This is a problem, not only because of general water pollution, but there are many reports of the water in homes turning brown.
This is like in the Simpsons, where near the nuclear power plant, the fish had three eyes because of the chemicals in the toxic water.
Although the water near data centers isn’t making genetic changes to wildlife, it is making it undrinkable for humans and animals.
Even though AI, especially generative, uses so much water, and makes the water of homes around it not clean, the water bills of people in the area have skyrocketed.
In Nashville, Tennessee, they are building one of these centers next to a zoo. Not only is this harmful to the environment, but the noise could be problematic for the animals.
The data centers are also disrupting peaceful living for many homeowners. People move to small towns to escape noise and have a quiet life, yet the loud, windowless data centers are disrupting that peace.
AI data centers have a tendency to be very loud. Imagine a center built next to your house and having to deal with all the noise.
One of the main reasons why they will not stop building is because these big companies are paying land owners millions of dollars to use their property.
This is making it hard for people to turn down the offer because it is so much money.
