As one of many who strive to be good stewards of Kent County and the region, I felt strongly compelled to issue my views regarding a recent Op-Ed submitted by Al Hammond regarding data centers, a subject that I have opined on recently and continue to work at as a design professional to fairly frame the discussion for our community. It is that important.
The cheerleading dense and factually thin Op-Ed was akin to sugar coating a very bad pill. I asked – is it naive optimism or an intentional glossing over to divert attention from the serious realities of large data centers and their potential detrimental impacts on Kent County?
The introduction of data centers into any community will have far reaching consequences. In bucolic and history-rich Kent County, the impacts are of paramount concern. Our unique community deserves thoughtful growth and requires specific and studied regulations for this ‘emerging’ industry because it is new and has already proved problematic.
The use of the clichés ‘data farm’ and ‘data farming’ is offensive and tantamount to desecrating a noble human endeavor, essential to the survival of humankind over millennium. Having been raised on a farm I worked the land and machinery in the hot sun, picking tons of produce and saw cash crops wrecked due to weather calamities. It is a difficult occupation with absolutely no relationship to a data center. We can’t eat or drink data and we won’t perish if our social media or Zoom platforms go down. I doubt that pride will ever stem from a multi-generation owner-operated data center.
I do not oppose data centers. I do oppose inviting data centers into our communities without first studying what that means, weighing the pros and cons, considering other creative possibilities, and putting measures in place to assure success of the County overall. Solely promoting economic benefits without considering the effects on community and environment is a failed model that has caused horrendous damage to communities and the planet – it is a paradigm whose time is waning and cannot be the foundation of a successful future.
I read nothing about finding balance between data centers, the populace and the environment. The intent of a Land Use Ordinance is to protect the welfare of the public and the environment, not the profits of corporations or the County coffers. These are laws created to advantage the community at large regardless of the views held by the County Commissioners and the Economic Development Office. The public should be involved in determining the fate of the County. The charrette process, which gives voice to the public, should be a mandated element of the approval process for a data center.
To educate and set the record straight, here are just a few overlooked facts and science to bring us back to reality.
- Data centers are the ‘cloud’, operating 24/7, year-round and up to 50 acres under roof
- Data storage industry is on par with the aviation industry pre-2020 in adding carbon dioxide to the atmosphere and will surge ahead due to the exploding market
- Data centers consume 2% of the world’s electric and will soar to 8% by 2030
- Data centers consume vast amounts of water to cool equipment – the U.S. Energy Department predicts usage at 174 billion gallons in 2020
- A South Carolina center uses 500,000 gallons per day from the ground and requested an increase to 1.5 million gallons – the average U.S. household uses 138 gallons per day
- Data centers range in size from Tier I to V – the higher tiers require more resources with increased potential detrimental impacts to the community
- A Tier IV center can require 26 to 34 Megawatts of power to operate – equal to powering 26,000 to 34,000 homes
- Offshore wind power is not failsafe – sea turbines are vulnerable to wave action and high winds and the production and installation of power cables is expensive and disruptive
- Data centers require emergency power systems to protect computing equipment when the primary power source goes down
- Emergency power is provided by up to 20 massive diesel generators, typically 15oo to 3ooo hp, which are run and tested weekly causing documented noise problems
- Stored diesel fuel for generators can exceed 100,000 gallons making leakage and contamination a legitimate concern
- Cooling towers and equipment to maintain interior temperatures create humming and rattling that has impacted communities in at least 7 states nationwide
- Scientists have determined that for people living near seven major airports, a 10-decibel increase in aircraft noise was associated with a 28 percent increase in anxiety medication use
- Another study found that people living in areas with high traffic noise were 25 percent more likely to have depression
- Noise is more than ‘annoying’ – it is a proven health risk and a detriment to resale
- Data centers are not pristine and visually appealing – the larger ones are Amazon-like bunkers, austere and impossible to blend into their surroundings
- Large centers require a secure perimeter with high fencing, a guard house, bright lighting and pole mounted cameras – in stark contrast to the farmlands where located
- Cooling equipment options are available to reduce water usage and noise but are typically rejected by budget driven developers due to increased cost
- Green and sustainable data centers are being built by big players like Facebook and green design can be required in a Land Use Ordinance
In summation, our community would be better served by presenting a factual portrayal of what it would mean to open our arms to data centers. If Joni Mitchell were inspired by Mr. Hammonds Op-Ed to rewrite her hit song Yellow Taxi, she might substitute ‘They raided paradise and put up a data center.’
Thomas Kocubinski is the principal architect at Kocubinski Architects.
Claudia Connelly says
I found Mr. Hammond’s vision for the future of the Eastern Shore and Kent County to be alarming on many levels. As an artist I see it as Mr. Hammond displaying a very glossy and rosy painting accompanied by the sound of cash registers merrily ringing among violins in the background — a Mr. Rogers version of the future of technology in Kent County and the Eastern Shore.
As an intuitive, my antennas went up at many points in his letter. The first was using the words “farms and farming.” Clever. Then there was the folksy friendliness – we were filling our shopping carts, chatting with family, streaming movies – what fun Data Centers can bring us! We were groomed that we are “well placed to benefit,” that our Commissioners may have been “prescient,” that “more…more… more” Data Centers will be needed in our future, that Data Centers are “appealing,” “pristine” and “don’t emit” pollution (Appealing and Pristine?! And, if I am not mistaken, they do pollute in many ways that probably do not “emit.”)
Further, we were encouraged that Data Centers will spawn even more opportunities to cash in on wind “farms” (did he forget solar “farming?”) – all this while urging us to catch the modern wave and “capture this novel 21-st century form of activity.” (Activity?) After all, we were reminded, we need the money.
I had to read the article a second time when I got to the bottom because I was confused when at the end he said “no one is suggesting wholescale conversion of farmland to data centers.” Upon reaching that point I had a picture of exactly that in my mind – wholesale conversion of farmland! Coupled with the comments that the rezoning amendment does not “appear” to apply to farmland and the comment that the value of the land that Data Centers occupy “which by definition becomes highly valuable industrial property” sent shivers up my spine. (Isn’t rezoning going on right now?) Mr. Hammond even compared the value of farmland to land that has Data Center “farms” instead! I am still scratching my head.
I read the bio with interest and thought it ironic. What we do need is someone with a scientific mind to drill down into what Data Centers could mean for Kent County from the perspective of the environment and the impact on the people who live here and the economy that does exist. I urge much study into the matter before attempting to cash in on something largely unknown. As was pointed out, our land is ripe for four cities within 100 miles and tax incentives have been offered to encourage it. I worry, are we vulnerable to a technology take over? I don’t want to live in a Silicon Kent.
On another matter, is it just me or has anyone else noticed that across the street from the proposed solar “farm” in Chestertown is an industrial zone complete with an electrical sub-station which is currently being upgraded. Isn’t that the “perfect” place for a Data Center? How big? Any size goes, right? If residents do not want it, can we afford to fight it? How many more fights could be ahead? Just wondering…..I think we ought to do more of that while we still can.
Doug West says
Thank you for sharing a factual analysis of data centers and your concerns for the future of Kent county.
Thomas Kocubinski says
I appreciate your reply and support Mr. West. Kindly consider sharing this information.
Carol Casey says
Couldn’t agree more.
Thomas Kocubinski says
Thank you for your positive reply. Please consider sharing this important information.
Beryl Smith says
Thank you for bringing reality to the idea of data centers. It is much too important an issue to be entered into or zoned for inclusion.
Thomas Kocubinski says
You are very welcome. A reality check was indeed needed. Please consider sharing this important information.
Eliott fuhrman says
Data centers can be developed in a current building currently not putto highest best use. Average size of data center is 50,000 sq ft .However , can build center within 10,000 sq ft. Chestertown is ideal for a center ,location and need of few workers. Can convert The armory to a data center.this would take an empty building to create jobs ,taxes
Craig says
Will the local taxpayers see an increase in their tax due to the towns obligation to provide fire, police, first-aid, and other security response resources? The cost of services will be greater than revenue collected from the company?