Amazon pledges more than $1bn over five years to US towns that host its data centres, as over 100 local moratoriums are considered
AWS chief Matt Garman says the moratoriums could cost the US the AI race. The money goes to college costs, energy upgrades and grants communities choose how to spend.
Amazon announced a programme called Built Together for the US communities where it builds and runs data centres. The announcement is an essay by Matt Garman, chief executive of Amazon Web Services. Amazon's page shows no date; Reuters reported it on 2 October.
Garman writes: “With Built Together, Amazon will add more than $1 billion over the next five years to what we’re already doing”. The money goes to three areas: covering community-college costs that financial aid does not, which Amazon says will give more than 300,000 students free degree access; energy-efficiency upgrades at more than 300 schools and community buildings and more than 30,000 homes; and flexible grants that communities decide how to spend. Amazon also repeats its target of being water positive across its data centres by 2030.
The essay frames the programme as an answer to local resistance. “Right now there are over 100 data center moratoriums being considered across the country,” Garman writes, and warns: “If these measures are enacted, the U.S. could be writing its own losing ticket to this race, and the consequences would last generations.”
Reuters added a figure for Amazon's total data-centre investment since 2011; it is not on Amazon's page, so it is not repeated. The money matters less than what it signals: the cost of AI infrastructure now includes paying for local acceptance, alongside chips and power. A Pew survey run here on 24 September found 54% of Americans now say data centres are mostly bad for the environment.
- Claimed Amazon will add more than $1 billion over five years to its spending in data-centre communities, under a programme called Built Together. Amazon (Matt Garman)
- Claimed More than 300,000 students to get free degree access; energy upgrades for 300+ schools and community buildings and 30,000+ homes; water positive by 2030. Amazon
- Reported Reuters reported the $1bn pledge on 2 October. Reuters via BNN Bloomberg
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