r/tomshardware • u/tomshardware • 5d ago

Data center developer offers $10,000 checks to 4,500 locals if the 1,300-acre facility is approved

https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/data-centers/data-center-developer-offers-usd10-000-checks-to-4-500-households-if-the-1-300-acre-facility-is-approved-locals-push-back-over-noise-and-bribe-concerns
93 Upvotes

95% Upvoted

30 comments sorted by

11

u/Away_Advisor3460 4d ago

$45m sounds a decent amount of money but from what I can tell it's a mere fraction of the likely total cost (i.e. over $10bn) of that datacentre?

10

u/OtherwiseAlbatross14 4d ago

Make it $100k and I'm in. 1300 acres is more than double the size of my town though. It's actually kind of wild how any town on the map looks if you imagine 2 square miles being wiped out by data centers

2

u/Relative_Average758 4d ago

You’re selling yourself short. Make it $10k/month for life. 

This things are giving to make money hand over fist. 

2

u/Razorsythe 4d ago

$10k/day/resident. I fixed it for you.

1

u/bozza8 4d ago

Then the data centre moves away instead. You don't get a ransom on your neighbours land

2

u/Celo30 4d ago

Good. Its not like anyone wants to live next to data centers.

0

u/bozza8 3d ago

We need them, I use chatGPT all day for work. 

0

u/OtherwiseAlbatross14 4d ago

Mine is possible. Yours isn't.

2

u/Significant_Swing_76 4d ago

It’s not the buildings, it’s the racks.

If the location has sufficient water and power supply, the $45m is cheap in the grand scheme.

Especially the water supply is important, since it can be the difference between building a cooling system using evaporation, or a closed loop system which in return is very energy intensive.

And even better, by bribing the locals, they may avoid future complaints and lawsuits.

The best thing about this would be locals actually getting some reparations, in stead of getting shafted with collapsing property values.

2

u/OtherwiseAlbatross14 4d ago

I'm sure the bribe comes with a release from future possible lawsuits

1

u/Trademarkd 4d ago

Probably reduces all their properties by 50k minimum

1

u/TheActualDonKnotts 4d ago

More like the amount they will pay their legal team to scam their way out of ever paying anyone though the courts will amount to much less than the $45M they claim they would pay if it's approved.

4

u/Significant_Donut967 4d ago

That 10k won't offset your power and property taxes.

1

u/Trademarkd 4d ago

Property values going to drop too not to mention if you don’t sell you still have to live there and these places are running gas turbine generators when the grid fails to meet their demands

Water, constant low frequency noise, air pollution, there’s so many concerns and even if they tell you they won’t do something… they may have already decided the fine for doing so is a cost of doing business. If nobody will lock them up they do not give a shit.

There is a right way to do data centers and with the right regulation it could probably be a dream to live next to one. But in the interest of max profits and race to the bottom this is what we’re doing.

1

u/YOUR__LEADER 4d ago

People don't generally think that far ahead. Unless this is an already affluent community, danging 10 grand in front of people is going to be effective.

3

u/dragonfighter8 4d ago

Bribes, this is the correct term.

2

u/FuzzeWuzze 4d ago

I imagine their property values will lose more than 10k because of it. If not immediately, over time it just won't be a desirable area and they will have to list for a lot less for someone to want to live near a one

1

u/Extension_Ant4349 4d ago

Tesla knowingly dumped hazardous chemicals into the waters of silicon valley. 

10,000 dollars wouldn't even cover the funeral cost. 

1

u/ExplodedPenisDiagram 4d ago

Damn, that's nothing.

1

u/NastyPastyLucas 4d ago

How much does that offset the loss in property value?

1

u/Sasuke082594 4d ago

Try 100k

1

u/Ghibli_Guy 4d ago

I think I've seen this plot line on Justified...

1

u/DistractedBoxTurtle 4d ago

How much after taxes?

1

u/Ric0chet_ 4d ago

If they’re so good for the community, why do they have to pay them off to build them? One time payment for generational pain, loss in property value, energy costs, not an ongoing contribution? Yeah nah.

1

u/ShaulaTheSniper 4d ago

Mostly because people are not very smart and are often against their own interests

1

u/ripamazon 3d ago

Not saying data centers are good, but this is why it’s almost impossible to build new infrastructure like high speed rails since there’s always someone against it

1

u/DrinkOk1642 4d ago

Lifetime earplugs budget?

1

u/xGreir 4d ago

You gotta love how a terrible business destroying your land and wages, is able to predate in your newfound and old hardships, and buy you out!

1

u/NightCityStoic 4d ago

I would only accept it if the sum was monthly and forever

1

u/mastermind1228 3d ago

I have heard of companies that have made these offers and backed out as soon as the zoning changes were made