Amazon pledges $1 billion over five years to US data center communities
AWS Chief Matt Garman Announces Built Together Program
Amazon will invest more than $1 billion over the next five years in US communities hosting its data centers. According to a post by Matt Garman, CEO of Amazon Web Services (AWS), on Friday, this funding is part of the program titled Built Together, along with new commitments on power, water, and transparency.
Funding Details:
- Education and Job Training: Covering out-of-pocket community college costs for approximately 300,000 students and establishing 16 additional training centers offering free certificates in trades like electrical work and fiber optics.
- Energy and Water Upgrades: Providing grants for energy upgrades in over 300 schools and community buildings, and more than 30,000 homes, resulting in estimated annual savings of $700 per household.
- Community Projects: Local nonprofits and foundations will distribute funds for projects like roads, parks, and fire equipment.
GeekWire reported that while Amazon didn't provide a complete breakdown of the $1 billion, they expect to invest over $100 million in community college endowments and around $100 million in training centers.
Garman linked this investment to growing opposition to data centers, with over 100 moratoriums under consideration across the US. He argued that such measures could have long-lasting negative consequences.
Addressing Concerns:
In his post, Garman refuted claims that data centers consume most local water and attributed rising power bills primarily to an aging grid. He also mentioned foreign accounts spreading misinformation, though one such campaign had limited reach.
As part of its commitment to transparency, Amazon will no longer use non-disclosure agreements with government agencies for its projects, a change required by Pennsylvania. They will also install cleaner backup generators at new sites and publish annual reports on energy and water usage.
Amazon reaffirmed its goal to return more water to communities than its data centers use by 2030, showing it was 75% of the way there in 2025. Additionally, Microsoft recently pledged not to seek local tax breaks for its data centers, while Amazon indicated it may still pursue them in certain cases.