Inside a California data center as communities raise concerns about energy costs
Summary
Data centers in California, such as the one operated by DataBank in Irvine, support many essential services like hospitals, banks, and emergency calls. As these centers use a lot of electricity, lawmakers and communities are concerned about higher energy costs and environmental impacts, leading to new rules and debates about their expansion.Key Facts
- California has around 300 data centers that support online banking, cloud computing, and AI.
- DataBank’s Irvine facility hosts customers’ servers, including hospitals and 911 centers.
- Data centers run 24/7 and need backup generators to keep services running during power outages.
- These generators can cause noise and air pollution, which worries nearby communities.
- Data centers consume large amounts of electricity, often produced from fossil fuels.
- Some residents are concerned data centers increase utility bills and take energy away from other uses.
- California lawmakers are considering laws to limit energy cost increases and environmental effects caused by data centers.
- DataBank operates about 70 data centers across the U.S. and is building another one in Vernon, California.
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