{"id":"f-86c21c4f86-1f7054ee-239d-5cfd-9ea3-a18725ca678c","title":"After clash with the US grid operators, Microsoft first to limit data-centre power costs","description":"Microsoft confirms that the company will pay utility rates high enough to cover its power costs and work with local utilities to expand supply when needed for its data centres.","timestamp":1768371187,"category":"business","headline":"After clash with the US grid operators, Microsoft first to limit data-centre power costs","modifiedHeadline":"Microsoft Limits Data-Centre Power Costs","subCategories":["scid_4d81caea"],"region":"IN","bundleMetaData":{"bundleId":"c35cfc57-1bba-4539-a24c-695ea99ac023","bundleTitle":"Mastering AI","cardData":null},"iabCategoryId":"597","fcSummary":"Microsoft is taking steps to mitigate the impact of its data centers on communities. They will cover power costs, replenish more water than consumed, and publish water usage data. This initiative aims to address concerns about rising utility bills and resource usage, especially as data centers expand for AI.","summary":"Microsoft to pay higher utility rates for data centers, collaborating with local utilities to boost power supply. A crucial step!","ctaUrl":"https://trends.glance.com/newz/news/IN/en/firstpost/f-86c21c4f86-1f7054ee-239d-5cfd-9ea3-a18725ca678c","sourceUrl":"https://www.firstpost.com/tech/microsoft-first-to-limit-data-centre-power-costs-13968426.html","bannerImage":"https://g-mob.glance-cdn.com/public/fc/image/L3Uiqv4bw360.webp","content":"Microsoft opens new tab on Tuesday unveiled an initiative to curb water usage at its US data centre and limit the impact on the general population from any potential surge in power prices.\n\n
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\n Political leaders across the US are urging a rapid expansion of data-center capacity and new power production to keep the country competitive in AI. However, local communities are voicing concerns\n, opens new tab over how the power-hungry facilities will impact their utility bills and use land, water and other natural resources in the region.\n
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\n Microsoft said it will pay utility rates high enough to cover its power costs and work with local utilities to expand supply when needed for its data centers.\n
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\n It also pledged to replenish more water than its data centers consume, saying it would start publishing water-use information for each data center region in the U.S., along with its progress on replenishment.\n\n
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\n \"Especially when tech companies are so profitable, it's both unfair and politically unrealistic for our industry to ask the public to shoulder added electricity costs for AI,\" Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith said in a statement.\n
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\n The company did not respond to a request seeking financial details of its initiative.\n
\n Ahead of the announcement, US President Donald Trump said on Monday the tech giant would make \"major changes\" in its AI infrastructure plans to curb data center power costs for Americans.\n\n
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\n \"Data centers are key to (the US AI boom) ... but the big technology companies who build them must 'pay their own way.' ... Congratulations to Microsoft. More to come soon,\" Trump said in a social media post.\n
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\n Ahead of the midterm elections this year, Trump is under pressure to address growing cost-of-living concerns.\n
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\n Microsoft had pulled its plans for a new data center in Wisconsin after opposition from the local community, CNBC reported in November.\n
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\n The company said on Tuesday that as part of its investment in Wisconsin, it is supporting a new rate structure that would prevent data center power costs from being passed on to consumers.\n\n
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\n Microsoft will also train local residents to fill construction and maintenance jobs at its data centers, as well as provide AI literacy training to communities.\n
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\n (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Firstpost staff.)","readDurationInMinutes":"4","author":{"name":"Firstpost","logo":"https://glance-mob.glance-cdn.com/public/bubble/png/28d65284-7c7e-4e74-a1da-84b4daef1e4c.jpeg"},"ism":false,"analyticsResponses":[{"measurementId":"DUMMy","type":"GA"}],"pointerSummary":["Microsoft to curb water usage & power costs at US data centers.","Will pay higher utility rates & replenish more water consumed.","Supports new rate structure & AI training in Wisconsin."],"tags":["Microsoft","DataCenters","PowerCosts","UtilityRates","AI","ArtificialIntelligence","BradSmith","DonaldTrump","USEnergy","WaterUsage","Sustainability","Wisconsin","LocalCommunities","TechIndustry","Infrastructure","MidtermElections","AILiteracy","JobTraining"],"consent":true,"redirectionEnabled":false}

After clash with the US grid operators, Microsoft first to limit data-centre power costs

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