Microsoft says it will pay the full energy costs for its new AI datacenters!

[thewayne]

It also will not seek any tax abatements or incentives.

Well, that's one heck of a move!

MS has a new "Community First" initiative where it is paying the full costs of its data centers, which will cause no increase in costs for area residents. They have taken tax abatements in the past, that apparently will end. There's a lot of hate for the big tech companies right now, and justly so: "In data‑center hubs such as Virginia, Illinois and Ohio, residential power prices jumped 12–16% over the past year — noticeably faster than the U.S. average, according to U.S. government data — as grid operators scrambled to add capacity for large new facilities."

A certain moron last night spilled the news on his private social media platform and said that his administration is talking to the other major tech platforms about them taking responsibility to eat their own costs, as they should, we shall see what happens. They certainly have the money, but as we've seen so often in the past, it's always been 'privatize the profits, socialize the costs'.

https://www.geekwire.com/2026/microsoft-responds-to-ai-data-center-revolt-vowing-to-cover-full-power-costs-and-reject-local-tax-breaks/

https://it.slashdot.org/story/26/01/13/146211/microsoft-pledges-full-power-costs-no-tax-breaks-in-response-to-ai-data-center-backlash

Comments

[kaishin108]

Well that is good news and how it should be. No reason homeowners should pay for something they haven't asked for.

[thewayne]

Absolutely!  And the number of jobs created by data centers isn't all that high.  I was reading about a data center operator in Connecticut: he has eight centers across the country, employs 200 people.  25 people per center.  Not a lot of long-term job creation going on there.  Now, they do pay well, but you're getting a lot of environmental pollution going on, also.

[disneydream06]

The pessimist in me says, there has to be a catch. :o
Hugs, Jon

[dewline]

Same.

[thewayne]

I dunno.  There may be something going on, we shall see.

[silveradept]

Hmm. Does that also mean they'll be paying for all the effects their datacenters have on the local economy, the local wildlife, the local health profile, and all the other effects that they're going to have, or are they just paying for construction and power? Because if they really wanted to work out all the costs associated, they'd be providing a lot more to the communities.

[thewayne]

Oh, sweet child.  Don't hold your breath waiting for that announcement!