Disintegrator 44. The Grid (w/ Molly Taft)
Apr 8, 2026
Molly Taft, Wired senior writer covering climate, energy, and tech, explains how datacenters, AI, and US power infrastructure collide. She discusses rising local opposition, water and gas-plant risks, grid incentives that favor new construction, and why transparency from tech firms matters. Short, clear, and grounded reporting on big energy and tech tensions.
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Why Data Center Protests Suddenly Spread
- Data center opposition grew because AI spotlighted visible infrastructure impacts that Americans can now see in their backyards.
- Molly Taft ties this surge to increased awareness, industry hype cycles, and local NIMBY energy, not just pure environmental harm.
Address Emotions And Details In Community Outreach
- Separate fear of AI from local infrastructure concerns when engaging communities; acknowledge both emotions and technical details.
- Taft notes many opponents say 'we don't mind AI, we just don't want it here,' so clarify data, design, and local impacts.
The Water Bottle Metric Misleads
- The 'water bottle per query' framing is misleading because water use varies hugely by data center design and local grid mix.
- Molly explains errors from lifecycle counting (e.g., hydro evaporation) and viral journalism that amplified a bad metric.
