Tom Steyer makes shocking flip flop on water-hogging AI data centers

Democrat Tom Steyer has been playing up his track record of climate advocacy in his bid for California governor — but a flip-flop on his position regarding AI data centers may infuriate some environmentalists backing the billionaire’s campaign.Greenpeace released its grades of the the crowded field of gubernatorial candidates and gave Steyer an “A” grade, one of only two candidates to receive that mark.One of the platforms on which candidates were graded was the promise to enact a moratorium on new data centers, which AI companies and other businesses store servers in to help make the internet and other digital services work more effectively.Those data centers have seen unprecedented investment thanks to the AI boom, but they also have become more politically contentious as neighbors living next to them contend with their heavy water and electricity usage.Environmentalists hate the centers for such impacts on the environment.On the Greenpeace survey, Steyer’s campaign marked “Yes” when asked about supporting a moratorium on data center “until regulations can be put in place that will protect ratepayers and require new renewable energy capacity and sustainable water procurement.” California's top news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day.

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Never miss a story Steyer elaborated further in the survey that “no new data centers should be built in our state unless they pay their own way so they don’t cost ratepayers a dime.” Companies should pay for all energy usage, he argued, as well as expenses to maintain and update the energy grid.But the billionaire had previously told Politico he didn’t think a moratorium was needed, instead stressing a focus on ensuring electricity rates don’t increase at data centers and communities’ water won’t be “stolen.”A Steyer spokesperso...