Data Centers Are Coming for Rural America — The Verge Investigation Into Small-Town Impact

The Verge·medium signal

The Verge published a deep investigation into how AI data centers are targeting rural communities like Jay, Maine, where a former paper mill employed 1,500 people before closing. Tech companies are attracted by cheap land and available power infrastructure, but locals face water depletion, higher electricity costs, and fewer permanent jobs than promised. The piece complements the Gallup data showing 71% national opposition to local data center construction.