They’re Sneaking Data Centers Into Towns. 😳
Data centers are being developed in towns through non-disclosure agreements that exclude public input, but growing community opposition has led some governors to scale back projects and up to 14 states are considering bans or moratoriums on data center development.
Summary
The transcript discusses how data center development occurs at the local level through zoning and permits, but has historically been shrouded in secrecy via non-disclosure agreements that prevent communities from having a voice in the decision-making process. The speaker emphasizes that major tech companies like Microsoft have recognized this as problematic and committed to removing non-disclosure requirements, questioning why secrecy would be necessary if there were nothing to hide. Communities across the country have begun to recognize this pattern as companies seeming to implement projects 'like a stealth coming in in the freaking middle of the night' without public knowledge or input. The tide is turning as public opposition has mounted, with notable examples like Utah's governor being forced to change position and reduce the size of a planned data center due to community resistance. This grassroots pushback is spreading nationwide, with up to 14 states now considering total bans, moratoriums, or pauses on data center development in response to constituent concerns.
Key Insights
- Data center permits and zoning decisions begin at the local level, and historically these decisions have been conducted under non-disclosure agreements that prevent communities from participating in the process
- Microsoft has committed to removing non-disclosure agreements, with the company questioning why secrecy would be necessary if there were nothing to hide
- Communities describe data center development as occurring 'like a stealth coming in in the freaking middle of the night' with decisions passed before residents could have their voices heard
- The governor of Utah was forced to change position and reduce the size of a planned data center due to sufficient public opposition and community resistance
- Up to 14 states are now considering total bans, moratoriums, or pauses on data center development in response to growing opposition across the country
Topics
Transcript
[0:00] This Every was down at the local level, all the way up to the White House. >> Yeah, it begins local and especially for something with the data centers begins local cuz that's where you [music] get your zoning and your permits. But these were done in non-disclosure agreements. Even Microsoft has come out and said [music] we're going to remove all the non-disclosures. If there's no big secret, then why do you need a non-disclosure? And that was what was bothering every [music] community and every state. They said it was like a stealth coming in in the freaking middle of the night. Nobody heard or knew anything and just suddenly [music] it was passed and their voice…
Full transcript available for MurmurCast members
Sign Up to AccessMore from Shawn Ryan Show
AI Data Centers Could Leave Towns Without Water 😳
AI data centers powered by companies like Nvidia pose significant threats to local water and natural resources, leading to widespread community opposition. Despite corporations' immense financial power, local populations are successfully organizing and causing some companies to withdraw their expansion plans.
Bioweapons Are the Greatest Overall Threat | Official Preview
Annie Jacobsen, a Pulitzer Prize finalist investigative journalist, discusses how the U.S. Defense Department considers bioweapons the greatest overall threat, explaining how a biological outbreak could lead to societal collapse within 6 days and detailing government contingency plans called 'Devolution' designed to preserve select leadership in bunkers.
How To Know If Your Mind Is Being Hacked 😳
The speaker argues that silencing opinions—particularly from credentialed experts—indicates psychological manipulation or coordinated control. They contend that social media exploits tribal instincts to enforce conformity through public shaming, creating self-censorship among those who fear social exile.
China Could Have 1,500 Nukes Soon 😱
China's nuclear arsenal is rapidly expanding from 400 to 500 weapons year-over-year, with U.S. Defense Department projections estimating 1,500 warheads within a decade. Meanwhile, Russia and the U.S. are not building new nuclear weapons, while India and Pakistan each possess approximately 165 warheads, though overall transparency and intelligence accuracy on these arsenals remains limited.
Why Marines Were Scared to Sleep in Vietnam 😳
A Marine recounts a fellow soldier named Swift Eagle who would nick sleeping Marines with a cable to keep them awake, as infections from wounds could be life-threatening in Vietnam. Despite being wounded seven times, Swift Eagle refused Purple Hearts and remained committed to the Marines, viewing his unit as his family.