Amazon commits $1 billion to data center communities

SEATTLE — Amazon.com Inc. is pledging $1 billion or more over five years to communities where it builds and operates data centers.

The company last week unveiled the “Built Together” investment framework for communities where the tech giant operates data centers across the United States.

The increased investment will fund free community college for local residents, energy upgrades for homes and businesses, job training and protecting local water resources, the company said.

“There is urgency to this data center buildout because we aren’t the only country that sees the benefits of AI for the economy and national security, and the countries that lead in AI will shape it and get the most from it in the short and long run,” Matt Garman, chief executive officer for Amazon Web Services, wrote in an October 2 post. “The choices we make today will determine that outcome, and a lapse in our nation’s focus or resolve could put us behind, and potentially irreparably so.”

Amazon is a leading player in the tech industry’s massive AI buildout that relies, in part, on finding communities willing to host data centers. Garman noted that there are more than 100 data center moratoriums being considered across the United States.

“If these measures are enacted, the U.S. could be writing its own losing ticket to this race,” he said, “and the consequences would last generations.”

Added Garman, “There are clearly areas in which the technology and energy industries can be doing better (along with their government partners) but just like in the past when the country has banded together to accomplish something that’s critical for our national security and economic prosperity — we should approach this as a long-term mission that the private and public sectors pursue together.”

Amazon said it is responding to apprehension over the data center buildout by codifying a series of tenets in what the company is calling its “Amazon Data Center Commitment.” The company commits to “protect and enhance communities,” “provide jobs and economic opportunities,” “engage communities,” and “build and operate responsibly.”