Data center backlash sends AI infrastructure to unexpected locations
Growing opposition to data center development in U.S. communities is prompting companies to explore unconventional locations, including ocean floors and space.
Local opposition to data center development across the United States is driving companies to seek new and unexpected locations for their artificial intelligence infrastructure. Nationwide protests and moratoriums in numerous towns highlight concerns over the facilities' significant electricity and water demands, alongside unfulfilled job creation promises.
Official figures indicate that 183 U.S. municipalities have implemented data center moratoriums or bans. Consequently, companies are exploring solutions such as undersea facilities and even ventures into space.
In Portland, startup Panthalassa is developing data centers powered by ocean waves. Its pilot model, Ocean-3, aims to leverage the ocean's natural coolness for server cooling, addressing common water usage concerns. Shanghai Lingang has already launched a similar project off the coast of China, utilizing wind power and seawater for cooling.
Other companies, like Starcloud, are heading to space. The company has already trained AI models on its first space-deployed data center prototype, utilizing solar energy and the vacuum of space for heat dissipation. Major players such as SpaceX and Blue Origin are also exploring space-based data center solutions.
In Europe, solutions are being found underground. Norway's Lefdal Mine Datacenter operates within a former mountain mine, utilizing hydro and wind power, along with fjord water for cooling. Sweden's Bahnhof Data Centers also places its facilities underground, including in a former nuclear bunker, recycling heat into local district heating networks.