Amazon pledges more than $1 billion to data centre communities as local opposition grows

Amazon says it will spend more than $1 billion over five years in the U.S. communities where it builds and operates data centres, GeekWire reported on Friday.

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The program, called "Built Together," will fund free community college, job training, energy upgrades for homes and schools, and other local projects. Amazon also said it will stop using non-disclosure agreements with government agencies on data centre projects, install lower-emission backup generators at new sites, publish its energy and water use each year, and pay enough for power to keep local electricity bills from rising.

"Right now there are over 100 data center moratoriums being considered across the country," Amazon Web Services CEO Matt Garman wrote. "If these measures are enacted, the U.S. could be writing its own losing ticket to this race."

Amazon is projecting about $220 billion in capital spending this year, largely on data centres and chips, GeekWire noted. Data Center Watch says at least 75 projects worth about $130 billion were blocked or delayed in the first three months of the year.