Data Centers: There's an AI Elephant in the Room

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Western states endured the gold rush. Will they survive the data rush?

There’s an elephant in the room. It was easy to ignore at first. Now, it’s hungry–nay, it’s famished–and nobody can agree on what to feed it or how much.

Everybody thinks they’re protecting the future but they disagree on what the future should look like. It’s a circus.

Who needs a data center, anyway?

You only need a data center if you watch Netflix or use Google. Well, I mean, unless you like to save photos to the cloud or ask ChatGPT a question. Of course, if you shop online, send emails, scroll TikTok, use GPS, or stream music, you’re using your share of data too.

Stewardship of this magical color country is paramount to many. We survived the gold rush. The resource rush is digital instead of physical, and it might not be so easy to fight.

A world without data centers would feel like the internet suddenly stopped working.

No streaming. No cloud storage. No online banking. No social media. No AI tools. Many businesses, hospitals, schools, and government systems would struggle to operate.

Modern life depends on data centers because they store and move the information that keeps the digital world running.

So, why don’t we put a data center in every community? Because data centers are expensive and use huge amounts of electricity, water, land, and internet infrastructure.

Not every community has enough resources to support one, and many people worry about how data centers could affect the environment, power grid, traffic, or local quality of life.

What is a data center?

A data center is a giant building full of computers that store, process, and send information. Think of it as a super-powered digital warehouse. When you access the Internet, your information usually passes through a data center somewhere. The internet is not floating magically in the air. It runs on physical machines.

Think of these centers as engine rooms of the modern world.

Data centers house thousands of powerful computers called servers. That many computers in one place generate a lot of heat. The systems require giant cooling systems to avoid overheating. They also require significant power and must have backup power systems. Remember, Internet connections move huge amounts of data very fast.

The possibility of using nuclear reactors to power these centers isn't particularly palatable to communities that still have a bad taste in their mouths from the mayhem caused by nuclear testing, particularly in Utah and Nevada. It's not the same, but it sounds the same, and that is enough to make long-time residents who remember shudder.

People in rural communities complain that the centers might alter their lifestyles, and they worry that most jobs will only last through the construction phase. So, they are hesitant to give up water, energy, and quality of life for jobs that will be gone long before the data centers mitigate the loss.

So why are people arguing about data centers?

Data centers use massive amounts of electricity, water for cooling, and land.

Some people are all for bigger and better data centers. They think these centers are crucial because AI and technology require huge computing power. Many community leaders are proponents of data centers because they will create jobs and tax revenue. Others believe the United States must have them to stay competitive in technology.

The debate is getting intense.

Now it’s time to take off the rose-colored glasses with dollar signs carefully etched on the lenses. New data centers are proposed in the West. They use a tremendous amount of water. If there’s one thing the West does not have in surplus, it’s water.

They also consume massive amounts of energy. Demand for energy makes the market more competitive. Energy prices have skyrocketed in some host cities.

People in rural communities complain that the centers might alter their lifestyles, and they worry that most jobs will only last through the construction phase. So, they are hesitant to give up water, energy, and quality of life for jobs that will be gone long before the data centers mitigate the loss.

The debate is getting intense.

Can’t we just stop using AI?

AI has existed for decades, but it became widely available to the general public in the early 2020s when tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, image generators, and voice assistants became easy for everyday people to use online.

The release of ChatGPT in late 2022 is often seen as the moment AI entered mainstream public life. That increased the demand.

The general public was already using AI for little luxuries like Siri, Alexa, Google Translate, recommendation systems on Netflix and YouTube, spam filters, and predictive text. It’s no longer a luxury. Banking systems rely on it. Businesses, hospitals, schools, and government systems have all integrated AI into their daily operations.

Dumping AI would be like putting a genie back in its bottle. You might say AI offers, “Phenomenal cosmic powers, itty bitty living space.”  AI might use the words of the late Robin Williams character, Aladdin, “You ain’t never had a friend like me.”

Can we live without data? Probably, but it would take down some of the world’s most important systems that directly impact people’s lives. Markets would crash. Checks might not come. Those self-driving cars would definitely plunge into the Potomic River. It wouldn’t be pretty.

Can Westerners survive without water? Definitely not. The already-struggling agriculture industry would be one of the first to go belly-up. Lawns and lush green public spaces would dry up. Rivers would stop running. Fish and waterfowl would dry up and blow away. You can use your own imagination to measure the potential impact of Utah, Idaho, Nevada, Arizona, and Wyoming without water. It’s a valid concern.

Where are America’s data centers now?

The largest concentration of data centers in the United States is in Northern Virginia, especially around Ashburn in an area often called “Data Center Alley.” It is considered the largest data center hub in the world.

There are also major hubs in Dallas, Texas; California’s Silicon Valley; Phoenix, Ariz.; Chicago, Ill., and Hillsboro, Ore.

These areas became data center hubs because they have strong internet fiber connections, adequate power supplies, available land, business-friendly policies, and access to cooling systems and infrastructure. Many have proximity to existing tech giants. That helps.

Many newer data centers are now being built in Western and Southern states because AI is dramatically increasing the demand for computing power.

Why is the West waffling on data centers?

The controversy over data centers in states like Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Wyoming, and Idaho intensified around 2022–2024, when public use of AI exploded. Tech companies raced to build “hyperscale” data centers.

Water, land, power, and the environment are hot-button issues in the West. For decades, Western states have struggled with drought, water rights, power supply, rapid population growth, land-use conflicts, and myriad environmental concerns.

Before data centers threatened the Western way of life, many residents saw them as big Internet warehouses.

People are starting to look at them as industrial-scale infrastructure projects that could permanently reshape their regions.

A major turning point came when people realized some proposed AI data centers would consume extraordinary amounts of energy and water — sometimes rivaling the needs of entire cities or states.

Box Elder County is bugged by the prospect of data centers

In Utah, controversy exploded around the proposed “Stratos” or “Wonder Valley” project in Box Elder County. Residents raised concerns about:

• groundwater depletion

• power consumption

• natural gas generation

• impacts on the Great Salt Lake

• lack of public input

• tax incentives for developers

  
  

Arizona conservation efforts are on the line

In Arizona, opposition grew because many proposed facilities were planned in desert regions already dealing with severe water concerns. Critics argued that massive cooling demands conflicted with decades of conservation efforts.

Phoenix is trying to balance both sides of the issue.

City leaders welcome data centers because they bring technology investment, tax revenue, and jobs. But they are also pushing for stricter rules about water use, energy demand, neighborhood impact, and long-term sustainability.

Some companies are using recycled water, air cooling, or newer cooling systems to reduce strain on desert resources. At the same time, residents and officials debate whether rapid growth is happening too fast for a desert region already dealing with drought and power concerns.

Nevada and Wyoming are not immune to the data crunch

In Nevada and Wyoming, debates center on power generation, industrial expansion, and the idea that rural western landscapes are being transformed into infrastructure corridors for national tech demands.

Understanding the emotional impact of the argument

The possibility of placement in the Western states boils down to a broad emotional concern:

Who benefits, and who bears the cost?

Supporters argue that data centers bring jobs, taxes, revenue, investment in technology, a competitive edge, and economic growth. Now, who wouldn’t want all of that?

Opponents worry communities might also inherit the noise, all the noise, noise, noise, noise. The environment is already stressed. How much more can it take?

Some believe they could face issues with water pressure. Many of these communities are based in agriculture. Let’s face it, increased power demand will mean higher prices (if the infrastructure to support it is even available). People live in these states in part due to the historic rural nature of small communities. The threat of industrialization is wrought with emotional fear. The long-term benefit of temporary employment seems to be of little comfort.

The fact that Westerners have fought dams, mines, pipelines, railroads, and power plants indicates their concern for the environment. Stewardship of this magical color country is paramount to many. We survived the gold rush. The resource rush is digital instead of physical, and it might not be so easy to fight.

Have you got 2 cents to spare?

I would love to hear your thoughts about the resource rush and proposed solutions that will help bring balance to the issue. Please use the comment section to share your feelings.