Lars Larson: Unwanted house guest from Hell!

By Lars Larson
NW and national radio host,

The Northwest Nonsense

See if you can figure out why Oregon lawmakers keep chasing those crazy computer data centers.

I know the tech industry wants the massive computing power to fuel things like untrustworthy Artificial Intelligence.

But there’s no reason for this region to prostitute itself for what those data centers offer.

First, they consume a lot of valuable industrial land without supplying the jobs that used to come from things like computer fabrication plants.

Second, they gobble up cooling water that’s become a scarce resource, even in a region renowned for its rain.

But most importantly, they chew up gigawatts of electric power…even as government energy agencies are forecasting blackouts for the region.

AND JOBS? Not much once they’re built.

My objection to the data centers isn’t about “not in my backyard”. It’s about return on investment. I’m sure for the democrats backing endless data centers, the political contributions are guaranteed which is why the current short legislative session is adding more goodies for the industry

But what good does it do the average person who ends up with a windowless box that eats up everything in sight like an unwanted house guest from Hell.

That’s the Rose City Rap. Join me at noon on KXL for 4 hours of Honestly provocative talk. I’m Lars Larson