(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . Renewable Tuesday: Everybody Hates Data Centers [1] ['Chitown Kev', 'Belinda Ridgewood'] Date: 2026-08-11 More precisely, we hate the Broligarchs riding roughshod over humanity to build data centers, and thus to steal our electricity and to steal and pollute our water, and worse to power them with fossil fuels and nuclear energy (stealing yet more water). Then the Broligarchs building them brag loudly and incessantly about how many jobs AI will kill. All of that is even before we get to the data centers that will be devoted to intellectual property theft and violations of privacy rights, and then the plague of Artificial Stupidity that we already suffer from as supposed AI promotes racism and conspiracy theories, and hallucinates evidence for its claims such as non-existent scientific papers. Cafe Press 🎩 Chloris Creator We all hate data centers Josh Marshall, Talking Points Memo It’s become a cliche of the politics of this moment that the one thing that unites all Americans in our polarized age is that they hate data centers. But a dimension of this occurred to me during the discussion between Marisa and I that was moderated by TPM publisher Joe Ragazzo. I hadn’t thought of it before. It’s not just that people don’t want data centers in their backyards or regions. We basically know why they don’t want them. They’ll bogart all the electricity and water. Drive up rates. Wreck the environment. There’s another dimension of it though. The throughline of this age is that you’ve got these big tech platforms that can do anything they want. It is a society-driving spectacle that is there in plain sight and yet still under-appreciated. AI itself captures all of this. We’re told by its makers that it will take away everyone’s jobs, require unimaginable new supplies of energy, has a non-trivial shot at leading to the extinction of the human race … and this is the argument of its supporters! The point is that there is this very small group of men running a handful of mega tech platforms and they’re making the decisions and it basically doesn’t matter what we think. Not just you and me individually but us collectively. It’s their world. We’re just living in it. Some of this is the fact that these companies are so big and their monopoly power is so great and they have such stores of money that they just roll over everything in their path. But it still has something to do with the nature of the tech world and the internet itself. It’s ubiquitous and yet not quite anchored anywhere. And yet data centers change all of that. They’re vast, physical, brick-and-mortar fortresses. And they come under the rule of local zoning laws and water districts and the regular bric-a-brac of local self government. And suddenly that changes everything. Because the little people can say no. Because the little people can say no. Here’s an example: Everyone hates Meta Good to see. A recipe for bankruptcy. www.nytimes.com/2026/08/06/t… — (@aligwizzle.bsky.social) 2026-08-07T03:13:19.559Z From the article above Eli Tan NYT A New Mexico judge ordered Meta to pay $567 million and make changes to the way young people can use its platforms, the largest financial penalty yet against the tech giant in its ongoing legal battles over social media harm and addiction. The ruling, issued late Thursday, was in addition to $375 million that Meta was ordered to pay in the same case in March, when a jury found that the company misled users about the safety of its platforms and enabled the sexual exploitation of young people. The $567 million will go toward a fund to remedy damages caused by the company, including money for treatment of young people who have been harmed by social media. “Although Meta is not alone in this regard, its social media platforms are a significant contributing factor to the current mental health crisis among New Mexico’s youth established by the substantial evidence in this case,” Judge Bryan Biedscheid, of State District Court in Santa Fe, wrote in the ruling. Meetings Second Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels (TAFF) conference Date in 2027 not yet set Ireland has been announced as co-host for next year’s sequel to the world’s first Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels. Announcement comes as 60 countries agree landmark move to phase out oil, gas and coal. The initiative grew from frustration with the annual United Nations climate summits or Cops, where all agreements must be unanimous, and the main fossil fuel producing and fossil fuel dependent countries repeatedly block progress. ⚡ Electric Today. Sustainable Tomorrow. 🌱🔋 Batteries⚡ Charging⚙️ Motors & Controllers🚗 Future MobilityThe low-carbon future starts with innovation.🌐 www.autotechasia.com📞 9999121103 #AutoTechAsia #ElectricVehicles #FutureMobility #SustainableMobility #EVTechnology #GreenTechnology — autotechasia (@autotechasia.bsky.social) 2026-08-08T07:07:21.962Z The 2026 climate event guide Our ongoing list of this year’s global environmental conferences, summits and more Far too many to list here, but these are of critical importance. When: 9–20 November 2026 Where: Antalya, Turkey The largest climate event of 2026 will be hosted by Turkey in the resort city of Antalya, with Australia leading the negotiations as part of an agreement between the two countries. There will also be a ‘pre-COP’ held in a Pacific island country, though the dates and host country have yet to be confirmed. COP31 will build on the deal agreed at COP30 in 2025, which included a tripling of adaptation finance and a just transition mechanism, as well as “roadmaps” to transition away from fossil fuels and to halt and reverse deforestation by 2030. The Good News “UBEC, Cross River SUBEB Launch Climate Change Education Initiative in Schools” — Cross River State News#EnvironmentalNews #Climate #ClimateChange — Environmental News (@environmentalnews.bsky.social) 2026-08-06T07:06:22.579048+00:00 as many as allowedwww.goodnewsnetwork.org/agrivoltaics…nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/phag/2022/03…www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/…www.wired.com/story/growin…www.npr.org/2021/11/14/1…www.energy.gov/eere/solar/a…www.thecooldown.com/green-tech/a…www.thecooldown.com/sustainable-… — (@worldmodeler.bsky.social) 2026-08-09T00:15:53.998Z German Minister Hails #Hydrogen-Based #Steel Plant Set to Begin Production in 2027–Katherina Reiche visited the SALCOS® | Salzgitter AG® construction site as part of her summer tour, where low-CO2 steel will be produced starting in the middle of next year. Read more here: fcw.sh/NcfyEB — Fuel Cells Works (@fuelcellsworks.com) 2026-08-06T16:18:01.887Z Plug-in ferry marks electric milestone ⚡🛳️New shore-power technology at Portsmouth, UK is cutting carbon emissions, air pollution and noise, while showing how even large ships can begin shifting towards electric propulsion.www.futuretimeline.net/blog/2026/08… #electricvehicles #electrification — Future Timeline (@futuretimeline.bsky.social) 2026-08-08T21:00:09.375Z ⚡ BDC’s August Decarb Digest explores why energy affordability is a defining issue in the midterm elections, how a new #HeatPump product expands access to more homes, policy updates from CA, IL, and MN, and the latest #BuildingDecarb reports and news. Read more: bit.ly/4wKhaol #EnergySky — Building Decarbonization Coalition (@buildingdecarb.org) 2026-08-07T19:11:47.071Z The enhanced geothermal company just announced a new 19,448-foot well. Fervo drilled a new geothermal well in Utah that goes deeper and further to get more energy. #geothermal — The Wild (@thewild.news) 2026-08-05T16:00:11.410Z It’s good for the planet to scrap a new petrol car and buy electric. Although #EVs produce more CO2 emissions when manufactured, they produce much lower emissions. The whole-life emissions for an EV are 90% lower than for combustion engine vehicles www.newscientist.com/article/2583… #ActOnClimate — (@alexvonwitzleben.bsky.social) 2026-08-08T14:22:31.072Z Ulster County is set to electrify its transit system with nearly $9.8 million in funding for electric buses and solar charging stations! Learn more here#UlsterCounty #NY #CitizenPortal #UlsterCountyHousing #ElectricVehicles #SustainableEnergy #TransportationInnovation — Citizen Portal News New York (@citizenptnewsny.bsky.social) 2026-08-08T06:45:53.559Z Conservationists are hoping Cornwall’s waters will be revived as they unveil a £1.8m project aimed at restoring marine habitats, rebuilding native oyster populations, and creating thriving underwater ecosystems. The Mor Nature initiative will be the largest seagrass restoration project ever undertaken in the UK, with plans to restore 10 hectares of seagrass meadow in Falmouth Bay over the next three years. Led by Cornwall Wildlife Trust (CWT) in partnership with the Ocean Conservation Trust (OCT), the project hoped to breathe new life into some of Cornwall’s most important coastal habitats. Iran Ah, Borowitz snark. A definite palliative, even if by no means a cure. In a major setback for Donald J. Trump, the government of Iran announced on Thursday that it would only reopen the Strait of Hormuz when he admits he lost the 2020 election. “The whole world knows you lost, moron,” the official Iranian statement read. “Stop being such a…baby.” In addition to an admission of defeat, Iran demanded that Trump agree that the disintegration of the Reflecting Pool’s lining was caused by his own “epic incompetence.” Rounding out their list of demands, which they called “non-negotiable,” the Iranians insisted that Trump admit that his poll numbers are historically awful, that other world leaders regard him as a laughingstock, and that he is in only slightly better physical condition than Mitch McConnell. Mrs. Betty Bowers is also no slouch at snark. We’re only days away from Republicans blaming ammunition shortages in Iran on prodigal use by General George Washington at Valley Forge. — Mrs. Betty Bowers (@mrsbettybowers.bsky.social) 2026-07-27T20:59:09.977Z And terrible puns. This is for real, but it is almost as funny. The Hill: Amid Strait of Hormuz talks, Iran publishes list of demands for US In a message shared by state media, Zolghadr called on the U.S. to end its naval blockade in the key waterway, lift sanctions on Iran and pay out war reparations. Additionally, the Iranian official demanded the U.S. military withdraw from the country and cease attacks on Tehran’s allies. Dozens reported killed in Ansarallah attacks; Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan sign defense deal; Trump targets birthright citizenship Explosions heard near Qeshm. Iran deal on Hormuz with Oman nears. Iran parliament speaker Mohammed Baghar Ghalibaf slams U.S. President Donald Trump’s “theater diplomacy.” Tehran sent Gulf countries list of power plants that it could strike if U.S. attacked its infrastructure, report says. Trump says Iran war “going very well,” to end “pretty soon.” Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian discusses effects of war, leadership of country. Mossad fires two senior officials over Iran war failure. White House tells Emiratis to silence Iran war critic. Traffic through Hormuz drops sharply. Ansarallah clashes with Saudi-backed government in Marib and Hadramout. Traffic increases through Bab Al-Mandab. UNICEF reports one Palestinian child killed every day in Gaza since “ceasefire.” Israeli forces withdraw from Qalandia as attacks continue across occupied West Bank. Number of Palestinian children held in Israeli prisons without charge sharply rises. Lebanese soldier wounded, water station set ablaze in Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon. U.S. says Hezbollah did not violate ceasefire in Majdal Zoun. Fox News host lashes out at Americans ‘whining’ about higher gas prices in unhinged rantwww.rawstory.com/iran-war-267… — Anne Grete (GoogeliArt) 🦋💙PD (@googeliart.bsky.social) 2026-08-09T03:55:30.587Z Kenya faces US$800 million loss from fossil fuel price surgehttps://www.europesays.com/africa/369809/Kenya has already incurred an estimated US$340 million in additional costs since the Iran war and Hormuz crisis… — (@europe-africa.bsky.social) 2026-08-09T02:45:04+00:00 Trump's Iran WarInflation topped 4% in May as CPI surged to its highest level in more than 3 years – CBS News share.google/7Cp9nAjJlB3o… — Helios (@urokialreadyknow.bsky.social) 2026-08-08T23:00:27.592Z Global Warming Catastrophes New record low for Lake Mead.#LakeMead #ColoradoRiver#AI #DataCenters#ClimateChange — Mika Peltokorpi (@mikapeltokorpi.bsky.social) 2026-08-06T04:17:05.990Z Around the world, heatwaves and wildfires are locking #ClimateChange and #AnimalSuffering in a reinforcing cycle. 🔃Those harms combined stop animals adapting, which reduces the planet’s adaptation. And that lack of adaptation worsens the climate crisis.Read more 👉 https://ow.ly/SGqG50ZvKxO — World Federation for Animals (@wfa.org) 2026-08-06T06:00:20.967473575Z Imagine in 74 years time, the country you were born and bred in became uninhabitable due to most of it being under water due to the rising sea levels.💔 #climatechange #risingsealevels #home www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08… — @pominoz.bsky.social 2026-08-06T07:33:55.866Z Record-breaking heat grips North Korea, South Korea and Japan #ClimateChange #ClimateCrisis www.cbc.ca/news/world/j… — Oden (@oden-gjallarhornet.bsky.social) 2026-08-06T10:33:51.690Z New research is helping biologists understand how an overlooked aspect of coral physiology may affect their fate under climate change. The post Corals Spin Tiny Vortices to Get Oxygen, but Not if…#science #coral #climatechange — FediBoard Science (@fediboard-science.bsky.social) 2026-08-06T11:19:46+00:00 Data Centers A bit of sanity is breaking out. IF data centers are built, at ALL, they need their own renewable power source AND a recycle water system.NO public water or power & no fossil fuel energy systems. — Pamelia Valentine (@mommymouse007.bsky.social) 2026-08-05T23:48:48.022Z “UBEC, Cross River SUBEB Launch Climate Change Education Initiative in Schools” — Cross River State News#EnvironmentalNews #Climate #ClimateChange — Environmental News (@environmentalnews.bsky.social) 2026-08-06T07:06:22.579048+00:00 The US government is now investigating whether Chinese firms are quietly renting their way around chip export controls.Offshore data centers in Thailand and Malaysia are reportedly the workaround, and Washington just noticed. — Shawn Chauhan (@shawnchauhan1.bsky.social) 2026-08-09T04:30:01.885919Z Why are the lunatics looking to power data centers with stolen electricity or with fossil fuels or nukes considering green cement? Data centers are a big test for the nascent industry. But they also can’t fill the orderbooks. If hyperscalers are serious about decarbonization, one might expect them to be pretty interested in startups such as Brimstone, Sublime Systems, and Fortera, each of which is pursuing a different approach to reducing cement’s carbon footprint. And they are interested. But that alone won’t fill these company’s orderbooks or offset the headwinds generated by the Trump administration rescinding previously obligated grants. That challenge has only been compounded by climate tech’s broader fall from favor as investors chase flashier, more explicitly AI-centric bets. The enhanced geothermal company just announced a new 19,448-foot well. They say we could put data centers in space without having to need massive water supplies & using fossil fuels or being hooked to the grid. Yet they can’t do that on earth? Eloon’s data center put in massive gas turbines on their data center. But owns a company that makes solar panels & batteries. — Dune (@dune54.bsky.social) 2026-08-09T02:34:39.613Z No New Nukes Jason Virgo, One Neuron's Member in the SA Parliament, says "the future is nuclear".Printing out a letter, photographing it, and posting the photo on social media is about as "futuristic" as the coal-powered, planet-destroying present he's trying to preserve for his mining masters. #AusPol — ArchedEyebrow (@archedeyebrow.bsky.social) 2026-08-09T02:43:02.003Z The big catch with small modular nuclear reactors #SMR er 👉🏽SMNR ☢️Mini nuclear reactors are seen as a flexible energy source. Their PROMISE: abundant energy, cheap🤔, clean🤔 and climate-friendly with lower water useDo the numbers add up? SM(N)R hype #NOamp.dw.com/en/small-rea… — Climate Watcher (@pmagn.bsky.social) 2026-08-09T01:59:42.606Z Part of the hype around some new mini reactors rests on the hope of extracting significantly more energy from the same amount of uranium. Some SMR models — known as “fast reactors” — could theoretically yield 60 to 70 times more energy from uranium than conventional technology, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). But the technology is still in the early stages of development and has so far played only a limited role in IAEA projections. In practice, it has barely been proven in SMRs at all. Only two SMR facilities are currently in operation worldwide — one in China and one in Russia. Thorium molten salt reactors could also use up more of the fuel than conventional reactors, leaving lower-level waste. But there aren’t any of them ready for production either. Nine Illinois communities express interest in hosting new nuclear facilities in response to state NOI — IL Energy Network (@ilenergynetwork.bsky.social) 2026-08-09T00:05:00.694Z Denial and Obstruction vs. Resistance and $$Real Money$$™ Climate denial is getting louder. Reality is getting harder to ignore.When parks are brown, rivers are shrinking and firefighters are battling blazes across the globe, governments must accelerate climate action, not slow it down. — Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan (@london.gov.uk) 2026-08-08T08:04:29.687Z The best deconstruction of Koonin was by @davidromps.com. A masterclass.www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNgA… — Andrew Dessler (@andrewdessler.com) 2026-08-11T00:00:59.683Z A Different Level of Increasing Idiocy Heatmap Daily e-mail: What’s So Strange About Trump’s Wind Deals At a certain level, it defies belief: The Trump administration is spending nearly $4 billion … for nothing. Last week, the administration reached a $1.2 billion deal with the German energy company RWE to not build three wind farms, including a large installation off the coast of New Jersey. The Chicago-based developer Invenergy signed a separate deal in June. There are at least five of these deals now, and while it’s not at all clear if they’re legal — see my colleague Emily Pontecorvo’s reporting for more on this, below — they keep happening. Back in April, she scooped that the administration planned to use the Judgment Fund — an essentially bottomless pot of money overseen by the Justice Department — to buy back the leases. Emily also parsed the administration’s first deal with TotalEnergies and found that it didn’t require the French energy giant to make any new investments to satisfy the terms. And here’s her story about the first major challenge to these buyback agreements, a lawsuit led by New York Attorney General Letitia James. ‘Tone deaf’: GOP fears WH isn’t speaking to voters' angst over Iran, gas prices www.politico.com/news/2026/08… — Timothy McBride (@mcbridetd.bsky.social) 2026-08-09T02:06:44.784Z Resources 🎩 GoodNewsRoundup Want to focus on the ENVIRONMENT: [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/8/11/800081634/community/renewable-tuesday-hating-data-centers/ Published and (C) by Daily Kos Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/