Exposing The Dark Side of America's AI Data Center Explosion | View From Above | Business Insider
The explosion of AI across every industry has seen hundreds of water- and power-hungry server farms sprout up across the US. Already, one-third of the world's internet traffic flows through data centers in just one US state: Virginia. However, until now, there has been no official record of the num
The explosion of AI across every industry has seen hundreds of water- and power-hungry server farms sprout up across the US. Already, one-third of the world’s internet traffic flows through data centers in just one US state: Virginia. However, until now, there has been no official record of the number of data centers in America, who owns them, or how much electricity they consume. In an exclusive deep dive into the industry, Business Insider reporters cracked the code and, for the first time, revealed the true cost of the data warehouses feeding our growing appetite for cloud computing and AI. We travelled to Virginia to meet people living in the shadow of 80-foot-high boxes that emit a constant drone, and to the drought-ridden state of Arizona, where some data centers are using as much as a million gallons of water a day to help cool their computer servers. Business Insider also discovered that the power needs of data centers have forced some states to withdraw from their carbon emissions targets. Power companies are even looking to extend the life of coal and gas plants to help meet the unprecedented demand. Check to see what data centers might be near your region: https://bit. ly/4nQz1GOYou can access our long read on data centers on the Business Insider website: https://www. businessinsider. com/ai-data-center-development-true-cost-environmental-impact-2025-6Take a look at Business Insider’s methodology for a full breakdown of how we conducted our research and compiled our map: https://www. businessinsider. com/how-calculate-data-center-cost-environmental-impact-methodology-2025-6This video has been nominated for a 2026 News & Documentary Emmy in the Outstanding Business, Consumer or Economic Coverage category. 00:00 – Intro01:34 – Welcome to Data Center Alley02:41 – Living Next Door to a Data Center05:16 – How We Built Our Data Center Map07:59 – A Drive Through ‘Data Center Alley’09:21 – Inside a Data Center in Wyoming12:23 – How Does a Data Center Work?13:52 – Living With the Drone – Meet Carlos17:34 – Thirsty Data Centers in Drought Country23:25 – Data Centers Vs Environmental Targets26:38 – Tax Breaks and Incentives28:34 – Just the Beginning29:14 – Donna’s Choice29:48 – Company Responses30:25 – Credits——————————————————#datacenters #ai #viewfromaboveMORE VIEW FROM ABOVE EPISODES:Why the US Operates 750 Military Bases Around the WorldInside Gaza’s Deadly Food EconomyWhy Rebuild LA When It Will Just Burn Again?Business Insider tells you all you need to know about business, finance, tech, retail, and more. Visit our homepage for the top stories of the day: https://www. businessinsider. comBusiness Insider on Facebook: https://www. facebook. com/businessinsiderBusiness Insider on Instagram: https://www. instagram. com/businessinsiderBusiness Insider on Twitter: https://www. twitter. com/businessinsiderBusiness Insider on Snapchat: https://www. snapchat. com/discover/Business_Insider/5319643143Business Insider on TikTok: https://www. tiktok. com/@businessinsiderExposing The Dark Side of America’s AI Data Center Explosion | View From Above | Business InsiderCredit to : Business InsiderPlease support our Sponsors -