Openei says it will minimize water use and pay for energy infrastructure upgrades needed to power its data centers. “We’re good neighbors,” the company said, directly addressing growing opposition to AI projects amid soaring utility bills.
“We are committed to paying our way on energy, so our operations don’t increase your electricity costs,” said Openey. The company has pledged to work with local communities to minimize the impact of its Stargate data centers. Openei was not specific but said plans could include securing its energy supply or paying for local grid upgrades.
Openei also highlighted the vast amounts of water — often potable — used to cool data centers, a concern that opposes the plans. The company said the effect can be reduced through “innovations in the cooling water system” and AI design.
OpenEye’s announcement comes on the heels of a similar community pledge from Microsoft designed to address growing frustration on the ground in communities around data centers. Tech companies are scrambling to create an AI infrastructure, even leading to grassroots projects in some cases.
