Washington Split on Concerns Over Energy and Water Costs of AI Data Centers
FOX Business’ Ashley Webster joins ‘Varney & Co.’ to break down the growing political divide over America’s massive AI data center boom — and what it could mean for energy costs and jobs.
The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) data centers is raising alarms over their substantial consumption of power and water. This surge in demand has implications for Americans’ utility bills, as lawmakers in Washington clash over whether this boom is beneficial or detrimental to the economy.
During a segment on “Varney & Co.”, FOX Business’ Ashley Webster reported that over 4,000 data centers currently operate across the U.S. Industry forecasts indicate that this number could triple within four years, driven by the increasing demand for cloud computing and AI services. These facilities operate around the clock, housing thousands of servers that require large amounts of electricity and water to maintain optimal temperatures.
US Capitol building in Washington, D.C. with blue AI symbol overlay (Greggory DiSalvo / Getty Images)
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have raised concerns that the concentration of data centers could lead to residential electricity bills increasing by as much as 25% in certain areas, as utilities struggle to meet the surging demand.
This situation has ignited a political battle in Washington. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) expressed his opposition to AI data center development during an interview with FOX Business’ Grady Trimble. He stated, “Number one, they’re driving up electricity costs immensely. Number two, they are utilizing limited water resources in some countries.”
DATA CENTERS RAPIDLY TRANSFORMING SMALL-TOWN AMERICA
Former President Donald Trump also weighed in on the issue via Truth Social, criticizing President Joe Biden and the “Radical Left Democrats” for escalating Americans’ monthly utility bills. He claimed, “Under Sleepy Joe Biden and the Radical Left Democrats, the average American Household’s monthly Utility bills went up MASSIVELY — over 30%! I never want Americans to pay higher Electricity bills because of Data Centers.”
Rep. Ben Cline, R-Va., joins ‘Mornings with Maria’ to detail GOP efforts to cut Biden’s Green New Deal spending, lower energy and healthcare costs, advance key funding bills and counter China’s legal interference.
Supporters of the data center expansion argue that these facilities are crucial for maintaining U.S. competitiveness in the global AI landscape. The debate extends beyond Capitol Hill; in Newton County, Georgia, tech giants like Meta and Amazon are constructing extensive campuses that span hundreds of acres. Meta’s Social Circle complex alone covers approximately 1,000 acres and supports data for platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
A Meta site operations manager remarked on the industry’s unprecedented focus on data centers, stating, “I’ve been in the industry for over 20 years, and I’ve never seen the focus on data centers like we have now. I love that. It’s innovative. There’s so much good that we can do,” KC Timmons told Ashley Webster in early December.
FOX Business’ Ashley Webster reports on the tech-driven land rush sweeping through Newton County, where Meta and Amazon projects are fueling both economic optimism and local backlash.
However, the economic advantages of these data centers remain contentious. While around 1,500 workers may be needed for construction, fewer than 200 typically remain once operations commence, raising concerns about long-term job creation.
Energy supply has emerged as one of the most divisive issues linked to the AI boom. Former Secretary of Energy Rick Perry has cautioned that to win the global AI race with China, significant increases in power generation will be necessary. He stated, “When it comes to AI-driven data centers, we must have both fossil fuels and nuclear power as our base loads and a lot of it.”
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8VC Managing Partner & Palantir Co-Founder Joe Lonsdale joins ‘Mornings with Maria’ to discuss how AI is reshaping US military power as global threats from China, Iran and Latin America intensify.
FOX Business’ Ashley Webster joins ‘Varney & Co.’ to break down the growing political divide over America’s massive AI data center boom — and what it could mean for energy costs and jobs.
The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) data centers is raising alarms over their substantial consumption of power and water. This surge in demand has implications for Americans’ utility bills, as lawmakers in Washington clash over whether this boom is beneficial or detrimental to the economy.
During a segment on “Varney & Co.”, FOX Business’ Ashley Webster reported that over 4,000 data centers currently operate across the U.S. Industry forecasts indicate that this number could triple within four years, driven by the increasing demand for cloud computing and AI services. These facilities operate around the clock, housing thousands of servers that require large amounts of electricity and water to maintain optimal temperatures.
US Capitol building in Washington, D.C. with blue AI symbol overlay (Greggory DiSalvo / Getty Images)
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have raised concerns that the concentration of data centers could lead to residential electricity bills increasing by as much as 25% in certain areas, as utilities struggle to meet the surging demand.
This situation has ignited a political battle in Washington. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) expressed his opposition to AI data center development during an interview with FOX Business’ Grady Trimble. He stated, “Number one, they’re driving up electricity costs immensely. Number two, they are utilizing limited water resources in some countries.”
DATA CENTERS RAPIDLY TRANSFORMING SMALL-TOWN AMERICA
Former President Donald Trump also weighed in on the issue via Truth Social, criticizing President Joe Biden and the “Radical Left Democrats” for escalating Americans’ monthly utility bills. He claimed, “Under Sleepy Joe Biden and the Radical Left Democrats, the average American Household’s monthly Utility bills went up MASSIVELY — over 30%! I never want Americans to pay higher Electricity bills because of Data Centers.”
Rep. Ben Cline, R-Va., joins ‘Mornings with Maria’ to detail GOP efforts to cut Biden’s Green New Deal spending, lower energy and healthcare costs, advance key funding bills and counter China’s legal interference.
Supporters of the data center expansion argue that these facilities are crucial for maintaining U.S. competitiveness in the global AI landscape. The debate extends beyond Capitol Hill; in Newton County, Georgia, tech giants like Meta and Amazon are constructing extensive campuses that span hundreds of acres. Meta’s Social Circle complex alone covers approximately 1,000 acres and supports data for platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
A Meta site operations manager remarked on the industry’s unprecedented focus on data centers, stating, “I’ve been in the industry for over 20 years, and I’ve never seen the focus on data centers like we have now. I love that. It’s innovative. There’s so much good that we can do,” KC Timmons told Ashley Webster in early December.
FOX Business’ Ashley Webster reports on the tech-driven land rush sweeping through Newton County, where Meta and Amazon projects are fueling both economic optimism and local backlash.
However, the economic advantages of these data centers remain contentious. While around 1,500 workers may be needed for construction, fewer than 200 typically remain once operations commence, raising concerns about long-term job creation.
Energy supply has emerged as one of the most divisive issues linked to the AI boom. Former Secretary of Energy Rick Perry has cautioned that to win the global AI race with China, significant increases in power generation will be necessary. He stated, “When it comes to AI-driven data centers, we must have both fossil fuels and nuclear power as our base loads and a lot of it.”
GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE
8VC Managing Partner & Palantir Co-Founder Joe Lonsdale joins ‘Mornings with Maria’ to discuss how AI is reshaping US military power as global threats from China, Iran and Latin America intensify.
