Core Insights - The establishment of data centers in small towns is creating a digital gold rush, with significant economic benefits but also raising concerns among local residents about planning and environmental impact [1][3][4]. Group 1: Economic Impact - Data centers provide good-paying jobs, expand the tax base, and boost local businesses and the economy [3][6]. - The Meta facility in Newton County spans 1,000 acres and consists of eight large buildings, each the length of four football fields, operating continuously [2][3]. Group 2: Community Concerns - Critics express concerns about the rapid development of data centers without proper planning, particularly regarding an Amazon facility being built on a 500-acre site [4][5]. - Local leaders acknowledge the economic stimulus from data centers but emphasize the need for careful planning to avoid haphazard development [5][6].
Data centers are a ‘digital gold rush': Ashley Webster