The Data Centers are Coming!

After reading a pro-data center editorial in the TimesNews, I was inspired to share the harsh reality of 24/7 data center operations. The idea that acid mine drainage (AMD) can be used to a cool data center is alluring but misses key points that the AMD is toxic, full of heavy metals, and requires expensive treatment before it can be introduced into a industrial cooling system. AMD is too expensive to use which is why it's left to groups like the Sierra Club to mitigate the toxic water in places like the Lausanne Tunnel. In so-called "closed-loop cooling systems", data center cooling systems have to continually add water to make up for the water that evaporates out AND also have to somehow clean that water in the loop as the evaporation leaves behind anything in the water, typically calcium, so the cooling system needs considerable turnover to keep the calcium levels low. This is why data centers need fresh waster AND have considerable waste. In my wildest dreams we could find a viable way to use AMD and information about how to clean the acid is available here. Until then, we must see through the hype and hold the line against the Panther Creek Power plant conversion to data center and other threats to our Lehigh River Watershed. Please take a few minutes to watch a recent video about the life-threatening impacts of data centers / bitcoin mines.