Kevin O’Leary’s Water Use Comparison: Data Centres vs Golf Courses
Kevin O’Leary claims data centres use less water than golf courses. The numbers are more intricate than they seem.
US Golf Courses vs Data Centres
- Golf Courses: US golf courses consume approximately 2.08 billion gallons of water per day for irrigation.
- Data Centres: US data centres utilise roughly 449 million gallons daily for cooling. This presents a 4.6x gap between the two.
While O’Leary’s initial comparison is accurate, the trajectory of water use in these sectors diverges significantly:
- Golf Courses: Water usage is either stabilising or declining as golf courses adopt drought-resistant grasses and recycled water systems.
- Data Centres: Demand is on an exponential rise due to AI training and inference workloads, projecting total data centre water consumption of around 590 billion gallons by 2028, surpassing golf’s estimated 425 billion gallons.
The Stratos Project and Its Impact
O’Leary’s 40,000-acre Stratos data centre project in Utah, which was scaled back to 10,000 acres due to community opposition, sparked further debates:
- Governor’s Order: Utah’s governor implemented new development standards specifically addressing the Stratos Project’s potential environmental impact.
- Water Rights Applications: A second water rights application for the project was withdrawn in May, raising questions about its sustainability claims, especially regarding water usage.
The focus should be on the ecological implications of industrial-scale data centres in water-stressed regions rather than comparing their water use to golf courses. O’Leary’s environmental studies background suggests he understands these nuances.
Community Resistance and Environmental Concerns
Communities across the US are opposing data centre projects due to their significant water, power, and land requirements. The proposed data centre near Nashville Zoo, for instance, has faced resistance from local conservationists.
In conclusion, while O’Leary’s comparison may be a strategic deflection, it highlights the need for responsible data centre development in light of escalating water demands and environmental crises.