Sanders and DeSantis opposition to data centers is a bad sign for AI

Here are some key points from the article:

– Democratic Socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders and right-wing Gov. Ron DeSantis have found common ground this year as leading skeptics of the artificial intelligence industry’s data center boom. This unexpected alignment signals a brewing political reckoning over the industry’s impact on electricity prices, grid stability, and the labor market.

– Sanders and DeSantis have come up with different approaches to address the concerns. Sen. Sanders has called for a national moratorium on data center construction, while Gov. DeSantis has proposed an AI bill of rights that would legally protect local communities’ right to block data center construction.

– The opposition to the AI industry’s expansion plans may slow the industry’s development if it reaches a bipartisan consensus, especially with increasing residential electricity prices and grid instability.

– PJM Interconnection, serving over 65 million people across 13 states, will be six gigawatts short of its reliability requirement by 2027, potentially exacerbating blackouts.

– The pushback against data centers is growing, with suggestions to reject data centers that the grid cannot serve or require them to bring their own generation. Another trend is the construction of on-site power plants by data center developers to secure power supply.

The article highlights the potential political repercussions of the AI industry’s expansion and the urgency of tackling the grid shortage issue.