Other: For Administration Leadership and All Council Members: midwestern citizens including all of Bloomington and Monroe county are paying very close attention to the AI wave and increase in control of resources that put cost burdens on the common rate payer instead of the companies drawing upon those resources the most. Citizens need some public acknowledgement that this is on leaders’ radar and that our leadership will have a voice in this issue as these projects continue to pop up in adjacent locations across the state. Leadership should be putting resources toward advocacy at the state level to get these costs lowered for common citizens and get these tech giants to pay their fair share. When folks can no longer afford power or water we have a major issue. Please don’t turn away from this rising issue. Water is the next big resource crisis and we need to stay ahead of it.
A reply was posted and the report shared with Council staff.
Thank you for your message. I have shared it with Council's attorney to ensure Council members also see it. We appreciate and share your concern about the impact of AI on water supplies around the globe. Data centers do use a lot of water, and while many are in the West in rural areas, there is a large one in Chicago. Water usage at that data center does not have an impact on local rate payers here in Bloomington. We will continue to monitor for potential future impacts.