An issue in my neck of the woods is that the developers of proposed hyperscale data centers require local government entities to sign NDAs (non-disclosure agreements) so all negotiations are conducted in secret, with a final plan sprung on the citizens as a fait accompli.
Yes, that is the story I heard on-air (and read in print today to get the quotation right). The issue also appears in the local press (I'm in WI) regularly.
BTW, the other issue here is ever more power is needed for crypto scams, uh "investments." Crypto players have become huge campaign donors. I read only 4 current members of Congress turned them down. (I haven't verified that, though.)
Horrible. All government actions that don't actually need to be Classified MUST be transparent. Of course magat gov'ts & their lemming voters don't give a crap.
Yes, which is why some states are introducing legislation to ban them. One argument in their favor, per a source interviewed by NPR, is "an NDA protects the local officials involved from unknowingly running afoul of insider trading rules."
A civilian using the excuse "I didn't know it was against the law" would still be convicted. Even less tolerable from someone whose job it is to make the law, which requires knowing the laws. Every legislature has state code books and plenty of staff to advise them. They're practically admitting it's insider trading!
Government of the few, by the few, for the few. Nice. Rejection of that silly idea of Lincoln "Government of the people" (aka the ignorant masses) has any merit whatsoever.
So I get that Data Centers are environmental issues for most communities. And I can understand that local politicians may sign NDAs to promote them for the 1,000 temporary construction jobs, then the 200 maintenance jobs. (Those NDA signing politicians should lose their jobs, IMO). AI technology may even be helpful a lot of the time, but the buzz where I live against Data centers is the type of invasive and surveillance computerized information gather on citizens. Everything about a person’s life is on-line. From your shopping history and medical files to your bank accounts, voting records, IRS records, passport, driver’s license, professional licenses, loan data, etc - really your entire life! So who has access and/or how is this information kept safe as technology and hacking abilities continue to evolve from smart computer literate identity thieves foreign and domestic? I’ve asked a couple of AI sites and got assurances that currently encrypted codes work as a firewall. However, neither Gemini nor DuckDuckGo could testify that in the future personal data would be secure. I have had my employer’s payroll site hacked, along with my medical history, twice! Call me a skeptic, but someone somewhere prove to me that bad actors, or an unscrupulous government, won’t be able to alter my records, or clean out my bank account a few years down the road.
Along with urban street surveillance, the perfect populist coalition issue. The only groups for are techie bro would-be rulers and corporate interests. Right wing, left wing, and along the entire political spectrum, who wants to pay to make someone else rich while ruining water tables? People don't want to spied on, either. We can see through the flimsy excuse it's about safety. Maybe it is--to keep the few safe by controlling the many.
ALERT: everyone not a tech expert, or especially if you are, EFF (Electronic Frontier Foundation, the people to trust on web and tech issues) is doing a livestream on "How to Build a Decentralized Web That Truly Works for All" Sept 17 11:00 am PDT with discussion. RSVP to participate live. It will be available later on YouTube and the Internet Archive. "Decentralized"?! Wow!
We live in Va. we have installed solar panels on our home.
Suddenly, our gas and electric bills went from around $40. something to $295. then to $303.. we got in touch with our representative. We weren’t even getting paper bills in the mail. A company in Tennessee thinking they’d take over our Gas company. So much evil non transparent garbage being done by evil greedy corporations. Get out the vote!
Another piece of cheery info on this subject. From "Futurism," a reliable site run by young techies who are on our side. The header: "As the Rest of the Economy Crumbles, the Amount of Money Flooding into Data Centers Is Simply Astounding." Sept. 3, 2026
In the article "...failed to generate even a fraction of the economic returns sought by institutional investors... leveraged assets include retirement savings... biggest gamble of the 21st C. Quoting WSJ: the amt of capital spent on non-data center has fallen off a cliff... futurism.com/future-society/us-economy-data-centers-ai-spending-pwc-finances
In other words, so much $$$ is going into this it leaves little for anything else and there's now no way to exit being taken for a ride.
Supposedly the AI these data centers are supporting will enable us to run the grid much more efficiently and thus make up for all (?) the resources they use.
Also, can't the heat produced by generators and the data centers be used somehow rather than just thrown away? Make steam to turn turbines and generate some of the needed power?
An issue in my neck of the woods is that the developers of proposed hyperscale data centers require local government entities to sign NDAs (non-disclosure agreements) so all negotiations are conducted in secret, with a final plan sprung on the citizens as a fait accompli.
Yikes! Just found the NPR link you mentioned, too. https://www.npr.org/2026/08/27/nx-s1-5879528/data-center-nda-disclosure-louisiana I'm going to see if Hightower can write about this in the coming weeks, thank you!
Yes, that is the story I heard on-air (and read in print today to get the quotation right). The issue also appears in the local press (I'm in WI) regularly.
BTW, the other issue here is ever more power is needed for crypto scams, uh "investments." Crypto players have become huge campaign donors. I read only 4 current members of Congress turned them down. (I haven't verified that, though.)
Steve, these NDAs should be made patently illegal whenever public officials are involved!
Horrible. All government actions that don't actually need to be Classified MUST be transparent. Of course magat gov'ts & their lemming voters don't give a crap.
Is this legal when it involves and/or impacts the community and state?
Yes, which is why some states are introducing legislation to ban them. One argument in their favor, per a source interviewed by NPR, is "an NDA protects the local officials involved from unknowingly running afoul of insider trading rules."
A civilian using the excuse "I didn't know it was against the law" would still be convicted. Even less tolerable from someone whose job it is to make the law, which requires knowing the laws. Every legislature has state code books and plenty of staff to advise them. They're practically admitting it's insider trading!
Steve, The NDA process you describe reminds me of how NAFTA was formulated and enacted.
Government of the few, by the few, for the few. Nice. Rejection of that silly idea of Lincoln "Government of the people" (aka the ignorant masses) has any merit whatsoever.
Did not know this, but not surprised.
The only comment that I have for almost anything happening today is "SHIT".
As usual, lots of info, well written, with that touch of Hightower humor that makes it almost...palatable. Thanks, Jim!
Thank you for this post. It helps me, and a lot of other people, understand the issues with data centers. Education is key, and you've provided it.
So I get that Data Centers are environmental issues for most communities. And I can understand that local politicians may sign NDAs to promote them for the 1,000 temporary construction jobs, then the 200 maintenance jobs. (Those NDA signing politicians should lose their jobs, IMO). AI technology may even be helpful a lot of the time, but the buzz where I live against Data centers is the type of invasive and surveillance computerized information gather on citizens. Everything about a person’s life is on-line. From your shopping history and medical files to your bank accounts, voting records, IRS records, passport, driver’s license, professional licenses, loan data, etc - really your entire life! So who has access and/or how is this information kept safe as technology and hacking abilities continue to evolve from smart computer literate identity thieves foreign and domestic? I’ve asked a couple of AI sites and got assurances that currently encrypted codes work as a firewall. However, neither Gemini nor DuckDuckGo could testify that in the future personal data would be secure. I have had my employer’s payroll site hacked, along with my medical history, twice! Call me a skeptic, but someone somewhere prove to me that bad actors, or an unscrupulous government, won’t be able to alter my records, or clean out my bank account a few years down the road.
Along with urban street surveillance, the perfect populist coalition issue. The only groups for are techie bro would-be rulers and corporate interests. Right wing, left wing, and along the entire political spectrum, who wants to pay to make someone else rich while ruining water tables? People don't want to spied on, either. We can see through the flimsy excuse it's about safety. Maybe it is--to keep the few safe by controlling the many.
ALERT: everyone not a tech expert, or especially if you are, EFF (Electronic Frontier Foundation, the people to trust on web and tech issues) is doing a livestream on "How to Build a Decentralized Web That Truly Works for All" Sept 17 11:00 am PDT with discussion. RSVP to participate live. It will be available later on YouTube and the Internet Archive. "Decentralized"?! Wow!
Rafi, Thanks for the EFF info.
We live in Va. we have installed solar panels on our home.
Suddenly, our gas and electric bills went from around $40. something to $295. then to $303.. we got in touch with our representative. We weren’t even getting paper bills in the mail. A company in Tennessee thinking they’d take over our Gas company. So much evil non transparent garbage being done by evil greedy corporations. Get out the vote!
Has anyone suggested that these facilities develop a way to use the heated water for heating homes and businesses?
Another piece of cheery info on this subject. From "Futurism," a reliable site run by young techies who are on our side. The header: "As the Rest of the Economy Crumbles, the Amount of Money Flooding into Data Centers Is Simply Astounding." Sept. 3, 2026
In the article "...failed to generate even a fraction of the economic returns sought by institutional investors... leveraged assets include retirement savings... biggest gamble of the 21st C. Quoting WSJ: the amt of capital spent on non-data center has fallen off a cliff... futurism.com/future-society/us-economy-data-centers-ai-spending-pwc-finances
In other words, so much $$$ is going into this it leaves little for anything else and there's now no way to exit being taken for a ride.
Supposedly the AI these data centers are supporting will enable us to run the grid much more efficiently and thus make up for all (?) the resources they use.
Also, can't the heat produced by generators and the data centers be used somehow rather than just thrown away? Make steam to turn turbines and generate some of the needed power?