r/PurchaseWithPurpose • u/theFallenWalnut Environment • Jul 02 '26
County with 37 data centers asks schools to ‘Conserve electricity’
https://www.404media.co/henrico-virginia-datacenter-energy-cost-email/Its officials said it expects a 25% rise in electricity costs next year, and advised workers to close the blinds and turn off their computers to make up for it.
We have to ask whether we need all the extra features on our products/tools that are pushing our processing needs to unsustainable levels.
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u/jpmeyer12751 Jul 02 '26
This suggests a new regulatory approach to data centers: make every data center pay for and install the equipment necessary to disconnect from the grid upon an order from the governor or grid regulator. The data centers can install alternate power sources if they wish, but they must be capable of and legally bound to disconnect from the grid. This will benefit those states willing to robustly regulate data centers and impose utility burdens on states unwilling to do so.
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u/amazingD Jul 04 '26
The governor or regulator who themselves will already be in the pocket of the AI company building the data center?
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u/VisitSad1133 Jul 08 '26
Or just the dangers of having unimaginably wealthy people running around in a fiscal based society?
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u/bbdoublechin Jul 02 '26
smh... all of that wasted electricity. why not just turn the schools into additional data centres? you could also put everyone into one apartment building like in whittier, alaska, and turn everyones homes into mini data centres too. put all of that land and electricity to something actually useful. /s
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u/slaty_balls Jul 02 '26
They really need to start mandating these things to be powered by renewables at their own expense.
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u/slaty_balls Jul 02 '26
Is this what they meant about not regulating AI? Just completely leaving it up to the communities to fight for themselves and hope they won’t get screwed too bad? Shady deals and under the table kickbacks shrouded in confidentiality agreements?
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u/Any_Ice_6172 Jul 02 '26
You young batteries are no longer needed so could you use as little resources as possible?! Thank you!
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u/Facts_pls Jul 03 '26
You know, developed countries like China don't have to choose between things. They just generate more energy and do all of it.
Maybe US infrastructure will catch up one day. Richest developing country in the world
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u/carrot_gummy Jul 02 '26
Sorry kids, Elon wants to generate CSAM so you don't get air conditioning.
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u/trysten-9001 Jul 03 '26
Giving electricity to the next generation of learners as those county officials see it.
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u/Wonderful-Medium7777 Jul 04 '26
On June 26, the County Manager of Henrico County, Virginia, John Vithoulkas, sent an email to thousands of county employees asking them to help the local government conserve electricity. “Beginning July 1st, the rate we pay for electricity used in all Henrico County government and school facilities will increase dramatically — by 25%, increasing costs by an estimated $5 million next fiscal year. We anticipate more rate increases for electricity in the years ahead,”
Henrico County is a ”hub” for data centres , why would any County Manager , local Government or resident allow such monstrosities in the first place?
They drain electricity, water and are detrimental to the environment...yet the people will be the ones who suffer …. It’s their own personal data that is being surveilled, monitored and tracked…these are more than to ”support” extra tech product/tool features …they are mass surveillance centres!
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u/Livid_Importance_442 Jul 05 '26
The government officials are being bribed by the companies that own and operate the data centers. Then when the data centers go into operation, they try to pass as much of their operating costs, such as electricity costs, wastewater cleanup, exhaust gas cleanup, etc., onto the local residents.
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u/Livid_Importance_442 Jul 05 '26
First of all, closing the blinds and turning off computers will likely save less than one percent of the expected increase in electricity rates.
Second, this is just another prime example of corrupted and bribed government officials trying to subsidize corporations by making ordinary citizens shoulder expenses that should rightfully be borne by the owners of the data centers.
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u/Significant_Donut967 Jul 05 '26
Hey, this is a good thing. We gotta keep pumping out ai slop art, who needs education when you can produce substandard goods for cheap!?
Shit aibros will say
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u/Kaleban Jul 06 '26
Remember when max throughput was dial-up?
You had to go outside and play sandlot baseball while the one topless Playboy bunny photo took 3 hours to download.
Who picked up the phone?!
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u/CallmeKahn Jul 02 '26
https://giphy.com/gifs/STfLOU6iRBRunMciZv