Amazon Announces $1 Billion for Communities Near Its Data Centers

Amazon has pledged $1 billion to support communities where it operates data centers across the United States, amid growing concerns over the facilities' impact on local resources and the potential for rising electricity bills.

The Details: The announcement followed a White House meeting attended by President Donald Trump and technology executives, including Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. Amazon said it plans to fund community college courses and job training in fields including electrical engineering, heating and cooling, information technology, health care and manufacturing. It also plans to provide grants for energy and water efficiency projects at homes, schools and public buildings, including insulation, heating systems, batteries and solar installations.

AWS CEO: Amazon Web Services CEO Matt Garman said in a blog post Amazon understands why some communities are concerned about data centers. "While there is much we (and other data center operators) are already doing, we've decided to codify our practices into a series of tenets that we're calling our 'Amazon Data Center Commitment,'" he said. Garman also wrote that he wants to dispel some myths about data centers, saying the centers "use very little water relative to other industries" and bring a "positive economic impact" and an increase in good jobs to communities.

Data Centers: Data centers house computer servers and other equipment that store and process large amounts of data. They provide much of the computing infrastructure used by online services, including artificial intelligence systems. Data centers often require substantial amounts of electricity and, in some cases, water for cooling. The construction of these facilities has become a growing issue for communities and lawmakers. Supporters point to jobs and economic investment, while some residents and officials have raised concerns about electricity and water use, environmental effects and more.

How The Media Covered It: Media coverage was largely consistent across the political spectrum. However, The Associated Press (Lean Left bias) gave more attention to growing public concerns about data centers, including their impact on electricity prices, water supplies and the environment. The Washington Examiner (Lean right) emphasized Trump's push for data center development and the benefits Amazon says its investment will bring to local communities. 

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