The other big issue for Canada is that its electrical grids are entwined with those of the US. When the. US grids need power because of extra demand from too much heat, too many data centers or equipment failure, they draw from the Canadian grid. Like the US power in Canada is often provided by private companies, whose primary concern is profit...not building "unnecessary" belts and suspenders ( resilience). As a result ,the equipment is often antiquated and the grids are fragile. Data centers may be power hogs but the real danger comes from climate change, natural disaster and now perhaps war...all of which can place extreme demands on a system designed for another era, when not everything depended on electricity to function. Rather than finger pointing ( even if deserved) Canada would be well served to have governments and cooperatives develop small grid regional power because we aren't ready to give up our electricity based lives.
I also am glad thus is being talked about. Power feeding homes and farms and schools and hospitals and all other required systems were paid for by taxes and loans and public approvals and through thr surcharges for the energy provided! So if AI needs power and make no mistake AI has lots and lots of money then AI, open your wallet and fund and pay for and plan and get built the energy infrastructure that will provide you with that energy that you need! Wab Kinew has it right in that he will not rob Peter (a.k.a. you and me) just to give the energy to AI because they have lots of money and one can't tell money to pay their own way because the rich and the powerful are deserving! Well bull shit to that AI. You want the energy then cough up the bucks to get it built! No free-bees at the expense to the people!
I am glad to see people writing about this. And it’s not just power, it’s the vast amount of clean water required.
It’s crazy to allow this to happen without significant public debate so that citizens understand the demands being made and what we are being asked to underwrite.
The other big issue for Canada is that its electrical grids are entwined with those of the US. When the. US grids need power because of extra demand from too much heat, too many data centers or equipment failure, they draw from the Canadian grid. Like the US power in Canada is often provided by private companies, whose primary concern is profit...not building "unnecessary" belts and suspenders ( resilience). As a result ,the equipment is often antiquated and the grids are fragile. Data centers may be power hogs but the real danger comes from climate change, natural disaster and now perhaps war...all of which can place extreme demands on a system designed for another era, when not everything depended on electricity to function. Rather than finger pointing ( even if deserved) Canada would be well served to have governments and cooperatives develop small grid regional power because we aren't ready to give up our electricity based lives.
I also am glad thus is being talked about. Power feeding homes and farms and schools and hospitals and all other required systems were paid for by taxes and loans and public approvals and through thr surcharges for the energy provided! So if AI needs power and make no mistake AI has lots and lots of money then AI, open your wallet and fund and pay for and plan and get built the energy infrastructure that will provide you with that energy that you need! Wab Kinew has it right in that he will not rob Peter (a.k.a. you and me) just to give the energy to AI because they have lots of money and one can't tell money to pay their own way because the rich and the powerful are deserving! Well bull shit to that AI. You want the energy then cough up the bucks to get it built! No free-bees at the expense to the people!
Thank you.
I am glad to see people writing about this. And it’s not just power, it’s the vast amount of clean water required.
It’s crazy to allow this to happen without significant public debate so that citizens understand the demands being made and what we are being asked to underwrite.
The impacts are not insignificant.