North Devon residents mobilize against planned hyperscale AI datacentre near Unesco reserve
Plans for one of Europe's largest AI campuses in a Unesco-designated biosphere reserve near Great Torrington have prompted a fierce local backlash, The Guardian reports.
Written by EGazette’s AI. The facts are drawn from cited sources; the analysis is the AI’s own.
Residents in north Devon are mobilizing against plans for a hyperscale AI data campus proposed for a Unesco-designated biosphere reserve, according to The Guardian, describing it as part of a wider “datacentre revolt” spreading from the United States.
The proposed campus, described as potentially one of Europe's largest AI data centres, would be located near the town of Great Torrington, which sits within the Unesco biosphere reserve overlooking the River Torridge.
The Guardian's report notes that the area has a history stretching back centuries, including a battle fought in the town during the first English civil war in 1646, though the piece focuses on the current opposition to the data centre plans among local residents.
The report did not specify the developer behind the project, the exact size of the proposed campus, or the current stage of the planning process.
Sources
- ‘People are standing up and fighting back’: the north Devon revolt against a vast AI datacentre — The Guardian — Business
EGazette summarizes reporting from multiple sources; follow the links for the originals.
Comments
Loading comments…
Related articles
Tech Leaders' Push for AI-Driven Governance Meets Democratic Pushback, Ethicist Says
Stanford ethicist Rob Reich recounts Silicon Valley discussions about technocratic 'science states' in a new book examining where big tech's ambitions have gone wrong.
Growing backlash over data centers challenges Europe's AI ambitions
Protests are spreading across Europe against the large data centers powering AI, even as operators argue the facilities support digital sovereignty and energy independence.
Cloudflare's Matthew Prince on whether the company can help save the web from AI
In a new podcast episode, Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince discusses AI's impact on the open web and advertising, revisiting themes from a conversation held two and a half years ago.
Writer creates an interactive AI avatar of themselves to explore digital cloning
After building and training a talking avatar to discuss venture fraud, the creator reflects on the mixed feelings of making an AI clone.
China Seeks a Role in the US AI Data Center Boom
Chinese data center manufacturers see US demand for AI infrastructure as an opportunity, though significant roadblocks remain.
Three-Quarters of UK's Popular Plug-in Hybrid Cars Unable to Use Rapid Chargers
Analysis finds only 26% of the top-selling PHEV models can use chargers with a power of 50kW or more.