Data Centers Go Nuclear (with Maia Woluchem and Dr. Livia Garofalo), 2026.03.09

We knew that the energy demands of data centers were preventing dirty energy sources from being sunsetted.  Now hyperscalers are reaching even further, resurrecting Pennsylvania's infamous Three Mile Island. Emily and Alex are joined by Maia Woluchem and Dr. Livia Garofalo, who have researched the impacts of data center construction across PA.

Maia Woluchem and Livia Garofalo are with the Trustworthy Infrastructures program at Data & Society. Their latest article, "Pennsylvania is perfect," is part of the New Internationalist's AI hype–themed issue.

References:

• Three Mile Island press release
• Senator McCormick press release about AI investments in Pennsylvania
• Senator McCormick’s wife Dina Powell McCormick named President at Meta

Fresh AI Hell:

• Amazon's Bahrain data center reportedly targeted by Iran for support of U.S. military
• "Iran war heralds era of AI-powered bombing quicker than 'speed of thought'"
• "Meta's AI glasses reportedly send sensitive footage to human reviewers in Kenya" (See also: original Swedish reporting)
• Bernie features Eliezer Yudkowsky in X video
• Grammarly offers fake advice as if from real writers, both living and dead
• Google publishes data center water estimates
• "AI Doesn’t Reduce Wo

Check out future streams on Twitch. Meanwhile, send us any AI Hell you see.

Find our book The AI Con here, and MAIHT3k merch here.

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Emily

• Bluesky: emilymbender.bsky.social
• Mastodon: dair-community.social/@EmilyMBender

Alex

• Bluesky: alexhanna.bsky.social
• Mastodon: dair-community.social/@alex
• Twitter: @alexhanna

Music by Toby Menon.
Artwork by Naomi Pleasure-Park. 
Production by Ozzy Llinas Goodman.