Concerns surrounding the environmental impact of data centers, particularly their water and land usage in relation to artificial intelligence, have drawn parallels to past environmentalist predictions that have not come to pass, according to recent commentary.

In New York, Governor Kathy Hochul has signed legislation instituting a pause on most new data center construction, a move that critics liken to the state's earlier decision to ban fracking. Similar efforts are reportedly being explored in Pennsylvania, Georgia, Maine, Michigan, and Oklahoma. The commentary suggests that these arguments, often framed around preserving farmland, are intended to appear nonpartisan.

These predictions of dire consequences are presented as unfounded. Analysis indicates that in 2023, all U.S. data centers consumed approximately 250 million gallons of freshwater daily, constituting 0.2% of the nation's total daily water consumption. The facilities themselves reportedly used 50 million gallons, or 0.04%, with AI accounting for a fraction of that amount. This water usage is compared to the amount used by the U.S. golf industry. Projections suggest that even a 100-fold increase in AI-driven water usage over the next decade would still represent less than 1% of total consumption.

Regarding land use, the commentary points to Northern Virginia, a hub for data center activity, where data centers reportedly occupy less than 3% of Loudoun County's land but contribute significantly to its general fund revenue. It is argued that technological advancements will further increase efficiency, allowing for greater capacity within the same physical footprint and with similar water usage.

The article acknowledges that data centers can strain local power grids but frames this as a solvable technical issue, often addressed by plans for on-site power generation. The commentary criticizes environmental advocates and media outlets for what it describes as a reliance on unsubstantiated fears, drawing comparisons to past predictions such as those concerning coastal flooding due to climate change, which have not materialized.

The author contends that a progressive aversion to technological advancement fuels this