Today, with our country fresh off the heels of the midterm election, I offer this as I ponder the state of our collective political affairs.
My heart is heavy with the change rapidly taking place across our geographical landscape: the boom of data centers, specifically a data center and energy project that is being proposed on land once sacred to the Cherokee Nation and beloved by its Bradley County residents. I’m referring to the so-called “Project River.”
Is there a balanced approach? I believe so. I’m advocating for sustainable, responsible development of our land and water amid the frenzied advances of AI.
Needs versus wants. Do we really need more data centers, or do we want more data centers? Do we need to risk creative, original thought for the sake of convenience? Or is this modern luxury a want? And what does this mean for the demand on our limited natural resources?
Have we considered the environmental, social and economic costs that go along with this increased consumption? What is the impact of the rapid proliferation of data centers across our country? How does this compare to the development of data centers in other parts of the world?