PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • March 26, 2026
Data centers use enormous amounts of electricity. The “large language” models being used are not the only ways to implement AI, but are certainly among the most wasteful of energy. The Trump administration’s irrational energy policies notwithstanding, we must still replace the fossil fuel burning used for heating, and especially transportation, if we’re to keep global warming within bounds. Conservation is still the best way to protect humanity’s place on the planet, and AI data centers work in direct opposition to what should be our joint survival strategy. A one-year cooling off period is simply good insurance in what is clearly an overheated market. ~ Douglas Rooks