OpenAI Responds to Protests Against Construction of AI Data Centers
OpenAI has reaffirmed that it will fully cover the energy costs for its owned data centers and announced additional commitments regarding their construction.
OpenAI published a set of commitments following votes in the U.S., where out of 41 local ballot measures concerning data centers across 10 states, voters nearly always supported restrictions or rejected initiatives favoring construction. The sole exception was one measure.
The company stated that for data centers it owns and operates, it will seek input from local residents, publish construction plans, and refrain from using non-disclosure agreements with government officials. In a separate policy document, OpenAI urged lawmakers to enshrine similar requirements into law.
OpenAI’s Chief Global Affairs Officer, Chris Lehane, said the document was prepared since August and discussed with dozens of lawmakers and candidates. According to him, the new measures combine the company’s previous initiatives to protect utility ratepayers and invest in local communities.
Opposition to AI data centers intensified over the summer. Residents expressed concerns about potential increases in utility bills, environmental damage, and job losses. Meanwhile, such facilities are necessary for OpenAI to serve its clients and develop new models. In February, the company informed investors of plans to allocate up to 600 billion dollars for computing capacity by 2030; later, it announced major data center projects in Georgia and Ohio.
