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Comment by fullshark | Hacker News Reader

What's are the positives for local communities for data centers? I see only negatives. At least prisons have to hire people.

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Jobs that exist only during construction, ambient noise, higher electricity and water prices. They also get the privilege of living near technology that represents the future: degraded education, unemployment and spiraling inequality.

I believe in Richland Parish people were excited about the opportunity to sell hot plates to the construction workers.

You're forgetting insane levels of air pollution and a measurable increase in ambient temperatures.

Higher energy prices. Oh, you mean net positives? I can't see any unfortunately..

Sure, in Loudon County, which has the highest concentration of data centers in the world, has seen its property tax rate fall about 40% since 2010. This is due to data centers representing about half the tax base now.

Key difference with this and TFA though: Loudon has never offered a tax abatement

There's one example. I'm not saying on the whole they're positive.

The local officials get slightly richer.

I'm not that cynical, I think they got stars in their eyes, were charmed at the idea of doing business with big money / tech and didn't do any actual cost/benefit analysis. Maybe they get an opportunity to make a very powerful friend/crony and took it without considering their duty to their constituents.

Maybe but also

> Per the report, the package of tax breaks and incentives was achieved through local officials bound by nondisclosure agreements, quietly struck legislative deals, and parliamentary sleight of hand to avoid public scrutiny of the deal. [1]

[1] https://sherwood.news/tech/hyperion/

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