ASHBURN, Va. – A test server hall tucked inside America's "data center alley" offers a rare firsthand look inside the AI boom. Why it matters: Seeing how AI is physically made helps sharpen our understanding of the unprecedented data center buildout that is becoming increasingly unpopular around the country. Behind the scenes: I recently toured an innovation lab by Digital Realty in Northern Virginia, home to the world's largest concentration of data centers. - Digital Realty is one of the world's oldest and most established data center operators. - The lab, which opened in September, allows the company to test new technologies and show visitors — like customers, lawmakers and journalists — what it's like to be inside. - A…
Amazon says its data centers use water more efficiently than the industry average and is urging others to improve as scrutiny of data centers intensifies. Why it matters: Water use has emerged as one of the biggest pressure points in the AI data center buildout, pushing companies like Amazon to publicly defend their efforts. Driving the news: Amazon revealed Thursday it was 75% of the way toward its 2030 goal — first set in 2022 — to replenish more water into communities with its data centers than it's consuming. - The tech giant also said its data centers are seven times more water-efficient than the industry average. Friction point: Roughly 70% of Americans oppose building data centers in their communities, with water use for…
Facing mounting scrutiny over data center water consumption, Google on Wednesday released a set of guidelines it says should become the industry standard. Why it matters: Communities across the U.S. are increasingly pushing back against new data centers, often citing concerns about water use alongside rising power prices, local air pollution and noise. - Google argues that better practices — and more transparency — can help ease those fears. Driving the news: Google's framework calls for: - Returning more water to local watersheds than its data centers consume by 2030. - Avoiding water-intensive cooling in more water-stressed regions. - Helping fund local water infrastructure upgrades. - Pursuing alternatives such as reclaimed…
The world's largest data center project — backed by Trump allies and bearing his name — is stalled by delays and logistical hurdles that could stop it before it even starts. - The latest sign of trouble emerged Friday: CEO Toby Neugebarger abruptly departed . That sent the company's shares, which already shed 75% in the last six months, plummeting in aftermarket trading. Why it matters: Fermi America, co-founded by President Trump's former Energy Secretary Rick Perry, is emerging as a high-profile test of whether the biggest, most ambitious AI infrastructure projects can deliver on their promises. Behind the scenes: In an interview with Axios on Thursday, Neugebarger defended the project while acknowledging some shortcomings. He gave…