Let’s see: everyone, for good reason, believes the current data center boom is predicated on the expectation that their jobs will be taken by AI (for some this has already happened). To add insult to injury, they drive power bills through the roof. The data centers employ at most a handful of workers.

It follows that the hostility is entirely rational.

Oh, and don't forget the tax concessions that mean everyone has to help pay for them.

I forget what brought it to mind but earlier today I remembered the old saw "If you want less of something, tax it." I think new data centers should be heavily taxed by the cities and states where they're built.

Truly one of the most loathed things in the country

In every country I've ever visited.

Maybe we should start turning them into interesting buildings or, at least, playing with some negative space to create public areas.

The way they are currentlty built, it's obvious they use the cheapest building technology possible.

They're aesthetically unpleasing for sure.