[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

The problem is not so much the "data center" label, it's the massive building which uses enormous amounts of water and electricity and makes a noise 24/7 that can be heard up to a mile away.

Local government is frequently overcome by the promise of tax revenue and doesn't properly perform even a little oversight to protect local communities.

In the future..... a lot of things might happen.
Today.... large-scale data centers consume land, water, and power and generate noise.

Is there a reason they cannot go underground to reduce noise?
Closed loop water systems and nuclear can help with other issues.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

Is there a reason they cannot go underground to reduce noise?
Closed loop water systems and nuclear can help with other issues.

From what I have read, much of the noise comes from cooling fans, transformers, and generators. All of those would need to be above ground even if the equipment itself was below ground.

Closed-loop water systems will cut back on water usage but the mechanical systems needed to cool the water before it is recirculated will create some of the objectionable noise.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

Is there a reason they cannot go underground to reduce noise?
Closed loop water systems and nuclear can help with other issues.

There's a limit to how far "underground" anything can be built in Florida. Much of it is at or near sea-level, and built on sand, clay, and limestone (which is why Florida is the sinkhole capital of the country).

[spinner1001]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

There's a limit to how far "underground" anything can be built in Florida. Much of it is at or near sea-level, and built on sand, clay, and limestone (which is why Florida is the sinkhole capital of the country).

And don’t forget human obstacles such as environmentalists and politicians.

Underground —> expensive and risky.

Look for data centers in space in the foreseeable future.

[vintageogauge]

How many hundreds of thousands of people live near airports, railroads, fire stations, etc.? people have chosen to live near noise forever, and they will continue to live near data centers old or new. I could not imagine living in a city like New York having to listen to traffic and sirens all day and into the night, I can imagine living out in the country and listening to the more even sounds of a data center, it's something that I feel anyone can get used to rather quickly.

[Normal]

Originally Posted by vintageogauge

How many hundreds of thousands of people live near airports, railroads, fire stations, etc.? people have chosen to live near noise forever, and they will continue to live near data centers old or new. I could not imagine living in a city like New York having to listen to traffic and sirens all day and into the night, I can imagine living out in the country and listening to the more even sounds of a data center, it's something that I feel anyone can get used to rather quickly.

Well, that’s great to hear, BECAUSE IT WILL BE THE SECOND LARGEST DATA CENTER IN FLORIDA. Juniper Creek Canal is the planned water feed. Only Arcadia Brownsville is expected to be larger. If maximized it will be roughly 1 GW or more. Its rival in DeSoto County is already looking at expanding its 34 acre site to a colossal 800 acres! The Sumter County site potentially may could surpass the larger site. Natural gas is going to be the fuel source for both sites. Nothing else is under consideration or planned. The fuel is tapped off the Main Florida line.

[JRcorvette]

Originally Posted by Normal

Can Sumter County afford the water usage of a new data center being proposed? The Mable at Center Hill PUD Is being proposed at a county Planning and Zoning Special Master meeting. The Special Master will review the project and issue a formal recommendation. Hopefully we won’t lose more water. Our water supply is already being threatened by drought and a proposed liquid trash injection well near the southern villages.

I am sure they are looking into all the aspects. But I can tell you that no one on here knows the answer…. Just opinions.

[Normal]

What we do know is Juniper Creek will be its water supply and it will all be powered by natural gas coming from the main Florida Pipeline. What we also know is it will be adjacent to the town of Center Hill in Sumter County Florida.

[Pugchief]

Originally Posted by Normal

What we also know is it will be adjacent to the town of Center Hill in Sumter County Florida.

So it's not going to be a noise issue for any current Villages resident. And by the time the developer gets that far south, people will make the decision to buy or not, just like they did with the turnpike noise.

[Pugchief]

Originally Posted by jrref

The other thing that makes me chuckle, data centers have been around for decades. All of a sudden everyone is going crazy about them.

Gee, I wonder why? /eyeroll

Just another thing to create more divisiveness....

[Pugchief]

Originally Posted by spinner1001

And don’t forget human obstacles such as environmentalists and politicians.

The two greatest threats to progress ever.

[ton80]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

From what I have read, much of the noise comes from cooling fans, transformers, and generators. All of those would need to be above ground even if the equipment itself was below ground.

Closed-loop water systems will cut back on water usage but the mechanical systems needed to cool the water before it is recirculated will create some of the objectionable noise.

My backgound is Refinery, Chem plant and LNG energy systems. I have worked on 500 mw and 800 mw systems which approach the subject 1 GW power requirement.

NG fired Power generation using combined cycle technology (Gas Turbine, Waste Heat Power generation and Steam turbines0 are about 55 to 60% efficient. I will use 50% for convenience. 1 GW power Generation requires 2 GW fuel and needs to reject 1 gw waste heat to the atmosphere. Power Generation and heat rejection MUST be located outside. GT exhaust goes to a stack to atmosphere and the inside closed loop water must be sent to heat rejection equipment such as cooling tower. The cooling tower fans blow outside air across the former closed loop water whih cascades down splash devices to cool the loop water for recycle to the data center and the power generation turbines to condense steam exhaust to recover the condensate for Boiler Feedwater.
In the Cooling Tower much of the cooling is done by evaporating warm recirculating water.
None of this can be located underground.
\
Now for some numbers:from AI
a. 1 GW heat rejection requires 15 to 20,000 gal per minute recirculaing water.
b. Water lost in the Cooling Tower must be made up with suitable quality water NOT Irrigation water without extenesive treatment..
c.Make up water for a power plant is about 180 gal per mwh x 1000 mw means MU =~ 3,000 gpm or 4,320,000 gal per day.

Hopefully, the local regulaters will ensure that the Data Center Developers ensure that Data Center will provide all Electric Power and all water required plus the Impact Costs are fully covered. In addition all roads etc. are covered by the Data Center Developers.

Another key comparison is how big are the new data centers compared to the Jupiter Creek and Sumter proposal. A site visit would be in order if any large data centers are located nearby based on past experience.

[Joecooool418]

Originally Posted by vintageogauge

We definitely need them and those that are knowledgeable will tell you that future centers will have closed water systems and will produce their own electricity or will pay to upgrade local electric production at not cost and most likely a lower cost for residents in the area. I would rather have a data center than a sewage disposal plant or garbage land fill as a neighbor.

You are confusing those who are "knowledgeable" with those that have a "vested interest".

Those that are "knowledgeable" will tell you building new data centers can have a huge negative impact on the local residents.

Hucksters will promise you the moon to get what they want. Delivering on their promise is another story. The industry has an abysmal record on that.

[spinner1001]

Originally Posted by Joecooool418

Those that are "knowledgeable" will tell you building new data centers can have a huge negative impact on the local residents.

It is not unanimous among knowledgeable people. Doomers are going to doom. The positive part is the locals who are affected — positively and negatively — get a say.