By: Charles Romans
Carter County Times
The announcement that a new data center will be built on property along the Industrial Parkway has generated both public concern and questions. Technology company TeraWulf purchased the property with the intent of building a large data center, planned to be in excess of 1 gigawatt, and focused on artificial intelligence (AI) and high performance computing (HPC). The new site is being called the Muskie Data Campus and, according to a May 26, TeraWulf press release, “the site includes approximately 285 acres of owned and controlled land capable of supporting hyperscale AI and HPC infrastructure, with optional adjacent acreage to support future expansion.”
Pushback from residents of FIVCO counties was immediate following the 8 a.m. press release, with many questioning how a development of that magnitude could have been started without informing the public. Similar size developments such as the AT&T call center and the proposed aluminum plant from Braidy (which ultimately proved a fiasco) were advertised long before groundbreaking.
In addition to this prevalent concern, there were questions concerning possible negative impacts to the local ecosystem, an increase in electric bills for residents due to the high-power demand of facilities of that nature, and strain on the local water supply for a business that requires a massive amount of water for cooling.
Some possible negative impacts to the local ecosystem include concerns over the levels of light and noise pollution the business might generate, and whether or not those levels would be enough to adversely affect local wildlife in adjacent areas historically used for hunting. Residents have also voiced concerns about water runoff from the facility, and if the possible runoff could be contaminated with potentially toxic chemicals.
Beyond the physical environmental concerns, many residents were vocal concerning the nature of the projected number of jobs the facility will generate, and if local residents will be offered those jobs. There will of course be the initial large number of construction jobs available to build a facility of the size projected, but residents of the impacted counties want to know how many – if any – of those construction jobs will be filled by local construction companies and individuals. And if any of those types of jobs can or will be converted to maintenance positions once construction is complete.
TeraWulf addressed some of these concerns in a release, citing that the Muskie Data Campus will utilize a closed loop cooling system that uses drastically less water than other cooling systems and allows no contaminants to be released into the air or the local water table. This type of cooling system, once filled, will not require being changed for an average of seven to ten years. When refilling is required, water currently in the system will be removed and taken to an approved disposal facility outside the FIVCO area. The company has also stated that noise and light pollution will be at or below acceptable standards.
However, local activists are pointing out that residents in New York have raised concerns about the validity of these claims after a TeraWulf affiliate – Cayuga Operating Company – was issued a permit last month to draw approximately a million gallons of water a day from Cayuga Lake for that facility’s usage. Those reported usages include dust control, sump pumping, and “system maintenance.”
TeraWulf will be hosting a two-day event to connect with the public and local residents. On June 16, there will be a job fair at Ashland Community & Technical College’s Technology Drive Campus from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will then be a community informational meeting with the TeraWulf team on June 17, at the Boyd County High School Gymnasium from 6 to 8 p.m. Questions will be addressed by company representatives at this meeting.
Contact the writer at charles@cartercountytimes.com
