datacenters2 articles
Britain's AI Superpower Plan Has a Serious Water Problem Nobody's Talking About
The UK government's AI superpower ambitions largely overlook the significant water demands of datacenters, raising concerns that these facilities could compete with homes and businesses for an already strained water supply. Water UK warns that official water planning forecasts exclude datacenters entirely, limiting investment in new infrastructure such as reservoirs, while some areas like East Anglia already face effective moratoriums on business expansion due to water scarcity. The industry body is calling for datacenters to be included in water planning frameworks, fast-tracked supply infrastructure, minimum efficiency standards, and requirements for operators to fund the water infrastructure their facilities require.
Anthropic Signs $19B, 20-Year Lease Despite Never Having Turned a Profit
Anthropic, which has never turned a profit, has signed a 20-year, $19 billion lease with datacenter operator TeraWulf for a 401-megawatt facility in Kentucky that isn't expected to be operational until 2027–2028. The AI startup's ability to meet its payment obligations depends on its continued success in raising capital, with an IPO expected later this year. The deal carries financial risk for both parties, as TeraWulf is restructuring its own assets to finance the project, leaving it exposed if Anthropic's fundraising falters.