Data centers are expanding rapidly and placing heavy demands on local water and power supplies. Municipalities must decide whether to raise taxes to cover the costs. The piece argues that residents bear the burden while data centers consume resources without contributing enough back.
The cartoon by John Darkow depicts construction workers surveying expansive sites for new data centers, with one declaring plans to build from the current location to the horizon. In the adjacent panel, workers on a ladder atop a massive data center building announce plans to place another facility directly on top. The image responds to the ongoing surge in data center development fueled by artificial intelligence demands. As of mid-2026, tech companies continue rapid expansion of facilities that require significant land, electricity and water resources. Local governments face increasing pressure to manage zoning, infrastructure strain and environmental impacts from these projects.
A cartoon depicts a big tech leprechaun atop a pot labeled local revenue under a rainbow of data center hype. The figure tells a resident that the promised funds will be needed to cover higher power bills driven by data center electricity demand.
