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Data Centers: Popular Campaign Pledges in Korea, 'Undesirable Facilities' in the US

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • In the U.S., a growing number of communities are opposing the construction of data centers, viewing them as undesirable facilities.
  • This contrasts sharply with South Korea, where "data center attraction" is a popular campaign pledge, particularly in non-metropolitan areas.
  • Concerns in the U.S. focus on the excessive use of water and energy, environmental impact, and strain on local infrastructure, leading to calls for stricter regulation.

While South Korea is experiencing a boom in 'data center attraction' pledges, with politicians vying to lure these facilities to non-metropolitan areas as engines for regional development, a starkly different reality is unfolding in the United States. Here, data centers are increasingly becoming 'undesirable facilities,' facing strong opposition from local residents.

Recent polling reveals a significant trend: 71% of Americans oppose the construction of AI data centers in their communities, a figure higher than opposition to nuclear power plants. The primary reasons cited are the immense consumption of water and energy, the environmental toll, and the negative impact on local living conditions, including increased utility costs and traffic. This widespread local resistance is prompting regulatory actions at the state level, including moratoriums on new construction.

Data center developers' promised job creation lacks solid evidence, while the projected power load for data centers could reach 10% of Maine's total power load.

· Melanie SachsState Representative Melanie Sachs of Maine explained the need for careful review of data center projects due to their significant impact on power grids and resources.

In contrast, South Korea's 'Artificial Intelligence Data Center Special Act' aims to streamline the approval process, further fueling the 'attraction boom.' This legislative push, coupled with the perception of data centers as crucial for AI industry development, creates a significant divergence in how these facilities are viewed and managed domestically versus internationally.

The American experience serves as a critical case study. Communities are actively pushing back, demanding stricter regulations and, in some cases, utilizing referendums to have a direct say in whether these power-hungry facilities are built. This local-led resistance, driven by tangible concerns about resource consumption and environmental impact, stands in sharp contrast to the national-level push for development often seen in other countries. It underscores a growing awareness and prioritization of local environmental and infrastructural sustainability over potentially overstated economic benefits.

The wholesale price in PJM has nearly doubled in the past year, and this is due to data centers.

· Monitoring AnalyticsA report by Monitoring Analytics, which oversees the largest U.S. power grid operator PJM, pointed to data centers as a cause for rising electricity costs.
About this summary

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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