Historian and feminist Ellie Burhans of Albany has recently taken on a new role demonstrating against and decrying energy and water hogging data centers. One has been proposed for an old convent property in Albany and it is one of nearly 30 such centers proposed in the state of New York despite growing concern over how much resources go into centers to support AI and crypto mining. New York may well soon become the first step to embargo new centers for a pause of a year, but Burhans and others say they will not just sit around and see what happens.

Do you think Gov. Hochul should sign bills that would pause construction of data centers for a year and also monitor and closely regulate them?

Which of these is your view of AI, the main reason data centers that house and cool multiple servers are needed? A. AI is the way of the future and it’s foolish to fight it. B. AI will be the end of mankind like in the Terminator movies C. AI like all new technology represents great opportunities and dangers both and should be regulated strictly by government officials.

After 10 years working in museum fundraising and administration, Ellie Burhans now works in course design. She has published poems, presented her research about women’s military uniforms at SUNY Albany and Temple University, and writes about the intersection of current politics and American history. She lives in Slingerlands, and volunteers as an election worker.