Stop data behemoths

What an eye-opening pair of articles that was in Sunday’s business section regarding data-center projects. These behemoths consume vast quantities of power and water, oftentimes outstripping supply. The people of Arkansas need to sit up and pay more attention to this, as there are several of these projects slated for the state. I worry that electricity rates will skyrocket and taps may run dry, all for a few hundred jobs. That’s not worth it.

What’s really troubling is our local leaders seem to be sticking their heads in the sand to this looming disaster. Sure, tax revenue may well rise, possibly significantly. But if we don’t have enough water to supply our residents, it’s not worth it and needs to be stopped. Also, subsidizing big business and big tech on the backs of working-class Arkansans by significantly raising electric rates is not going to go over well. Civil unrest and possibly even violence will ensue. With such big, significant quality-of-life issues seemingly being ignored, one........

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