Energy and water bills could soar thanks to new constructions
New data centers are being proposed across the UK
These are crucial for AI development and usage, but have disastrous impacts on the environment
Tech giants are calling for more expansion
The UK could be set for a major increase in the number of data centers across the country, as new reports claim a surge in building is set to commence.
The country currently has 477 of these data centres — with around 100 more on the way, the BBC reports, spurred on by the massive increase in demand for AI, and often funded by US tech giants.
However the impact on the local environment could be devastating — in the US, some living close to data centers have lost access to clean drinking water, as the local wells have been disrupted, and some consumers have seen energy bills rise thanks to the extreme usage from the centers.
