AI Data Warehouses Will Adversely Impact Our Communities

AI AI data warehouse has thousands of servers, the brain of an AI system like ChatGPT. Three AI data warehouses are planned for Westmoreland County and more than 100 statewide. Their impact on our local communities is enormous.

A medium-sized AI data warehouse consumes more than 100 million gallons of water per year and requires enough electricity to power 50,000 to 100,000 homes. That’s just for a medium-sized facility. With recurring drought conditions in our area and an aging power grid, data warehouse water and electricity needs will drive up utility costs for all county residents.

The Homer City AI complex will be over 3,200 acres with tens of thousands of servers. The complex will generate electricity through gas turbines using natural gas from fracking. Air pollution from the gas turbines is an major issues as is the water pollution as additional fracking sites will be needed to meet the facility’s needs.

Community action has to begin as early as possible to be effective in stopping a data warehouse in your community. It begins with local zoning boards that must review and approve plans before they can begin to submit designs and permits.

We can also ask our elected representatives to take action to ensure that AI data warehouses are responsibly designed and permitted to minimize impact on our communities and natural resources.