FT Blog: Pennsylvania voters unite against data centres
Financial Times article
Pennsylvania voters unite against data centres
This blog is based on the article published by the Financial Times on September 3 2026
https://www.ft.com/content/8252d574-ae2a-4403-9cf9-031295ba67f5?syn-25a6b1a6=1
This article is part of the Financial Times free schools access programme. Details/registration here.
This article is about the growth of data centres in the United States, which AI businesses need to deliver their services. Data centres are controversial because of the huge demands they place on local resources. Particularly water and electricity. Communities are also concerned about the general growth of AI.
Questions
a. Outline the use of the resources, capital and land, used by data centres. [4]
b. Explain how data centres can be used as an example of competitive supply in the electricity market. [4]
c. Using a cost/benefit diagram, explain the negative externalities associated with data centres. [4]
d. Explain two benefits data centres bring to the places they are located in. [4]
Total [16]