[ExI] benefits of climate change

[John Clark]

On Thu, Aug 13, 2026 at 5:52 PM <spike at rainier66.com> wrote:



> >>>>…A large power failure in Phoenix during a heat wave would kill at
> least a million.
>  Keith
>
>
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> *>>>This is a powerful argument for setting up AI data centers along the
> CA/NV state line, then using it as redundant emergency power supplies to
> Phoenix. In this scenario, life-saving power could be diverted from AI in
> CA to AC in AZ.*
>
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> *>>…Hmm... That's not a bad idea. *
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> *> Imposter! What have you done with John, and how much ransom do you
> want? *
>

*If somebody has an idea better than mine I will abandon my competing idea
and embrace the new one as my own because I feel absolutely no loyalty
towards ideas.  *
*AI in general and data centers in particular are far more unpopular in the
US than in Europe or China, this could help with that provided that the
power plant operating the data center isn't burning coal, because nobody in
their right mind wants to be downwind of a coal burning power plant.*

*> They could import coal from neighboring Utah or from Wyoming since there
> are huge reserves of bituminous coal out there, *


*That coal is primarily subbituminous not bituminous, it's cleaner than the
bituminous coal found in East coast places like Appalachia, but it only
contains about 2/3 as much energy, and that is a severe economic
disadvantage. *



> *> If I see a company buying up land along the 95 corridor north and west
> of Las Vegas, I will have a pretty good idea what they have in mind, and I
> will likely invest in that company.  They could set up data centers out
> there, use most of it for that, then be ready to sell expensive high profit
> emergency or peak power to Phoenix, San Deigo, Los Angeles, *
>

*You didn't mention solar or wind power but I think they could be important
(if you have the room and in Arizona you do) especially when it comes to
powering AI data centers. Normally they are at an economic disadvantage
because they are intermittent so you need the factor in an expensive
battery backup, but regardless of if your primary power source is coal,
natural gas, oil or nuclear you're going to need a battery back up if it's
powering a data center, so solar and wind's disadvantage factors out.  *

*>  I do sincerely recommend a road trip across route 50 from Fallon to Ely
> Nevada*


*I don't remember the route number but I do remember that I was once
driving down a well paved road in Arizona and suddenly realized that for
the last hour I hadn't seen another car going in either direction, you
could've landed a 747 on that road with no problem. T**his was long before
cell phones so I remember thinking that if my car broke down even my bones
would never be found, that was nonsense of course but it was
creepy.  Fortunately my car didn't break down. *

*John K Clark*




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