Data centers are reshaping communities. Local journalists should take notice.

Coming off a couple of midterm election workshops in the Midwest, my advice to any newsroom that cares to listen comes down to two words: Data centers.

These massive warehouses of data processing hardware are measured in mega, even gigawatts of power demand, enough to supply 600,000 homes. A medium-sized facility can require 100 million gallons of water a year to keep all that equipment cool. Fueled by the rise of artificial intelligence, they are popping up across the country.

I can’t remember a time when a topic was so ripe for coverage in terms of public service and newsroom sustainability.

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