Amazon defends data centers amid public concerns

Amazon Web Services CEO Matt Garman has announced the company no longer uses nondisclosure agreements with government agencies, aiming to address growing skepticism about data centers. Garman argued that these facilities are beneficial for communities, countering claims that they consume excessive water, raise electricity costs, and emit significant pollution. He cited Amazon’s own data showing that direct data center water use accounts for just 0.5% of U.S. industrial water consumption. Garman also highlighted that data centers are largely idle, running only about 10 hours a year. Meanwhile, New York has imposed a one-year moratorium on large data center permits, with over 100 similar measures under consideration nationwide. Critics, however, remain unconvinced, citing rising electricity prices and ongoing legal challenges over environmental impacts.