Xin Lang Cai Jing·2026-01-13 16:44Core Viewpoint - Microsoft has announced a new initiative aimed at reducing water consumption in its U.S. data centers and mitigating the potential impact of rising electricity costs on the public [1][3]. Group 1: Initiative Details - The company will pay electricity costs sufficient to cover its own usage and will collaborate with local utility companies to expand power supply based on data center demand [1][3]. - Microsoft has committed to achieving "net replenishment" of water resources, meaning that the amount of water replenished will exceed the amount consumed [1][3]. - The company plans to disclose details about water usage and replenishment progress for its U.S. data centers in the future [1][3]. Group 2: Political Context - U.S. political leaders are calling for rapid expansion of data center capacity and new power generation facilities to maintain competitiveness in the AI sector, while local communities express concerns about the high energy consumption of these facilities [1][3]. - President Donald Trump stated that large tech companies must bear the costs of building these facilities, emphasizing the importance of data centers for the growth of the U.S. AI industry [4]. - Microsoft is assisting in developing a new pricing mechanism in Wisconsin to prevent the transfer of data center electricity costs to consumers [4]. Group 3: Community Engagement - Microsoft will provide training for local residents to prepare them for jobs in the construction and operation of data centers, as well as conduct AI knowledge dissemination training in the community [4].