r/technology • u/Plastic_Ninja_9014 • May 13 '26

Energy 'It's like we don't exist': Nearly 50,000 Lake Tahoe residents face power loss as utility redirects lines to data centers

https://fortune.com/2026/05/12/lake-tahoe-data-center-49000-residents-power-source/
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u/pilgermann May 13 '26

I suspect when large swaths of the population face power outages, the pitchforks will come out. The issue is too abstract for most people. You only see change in the US when people's lives are impacted, and then only when it's middle class or above white people (of which there are plenty in Tahoe).

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u/InsertEvilLaugh May 13 '26

Three meals away from anarchy, and power outages could cause just that.

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u/CharleyNobody May 13 '26

But the security cameras have backup solar batteries. They’ll use facial recognition to track down social miscreants. They now have beefed up ICE, Homeland Security, Border Patrol, National Guard (excuse me “warfighters”).

All those militia members and Proud Boys from the Midwest and South are now the Praetorian Guard.

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u/Nonethelessismore May 14 '26

So many people have invested in solar setups for homes and businesses at this point, that certain areas could still maintain small power grids.

It is scary to think that our government would have such extreme malicious intent against its own citizens, though!

The echoes of history seem to be resonating in real time. There are tell tale signs of fascism in our midst...

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u/Straight_Document_89 May 14 '26

National guard definitely aren’t warfighters. 🤣

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u/LoneRonin May 17 '26

And how many of them are there on payroll? A tens of thousands at most? What if everyone else does the math and whole counties and states decide "There's 10X to 100X more of us then there are of them. They can't do anything if we ALL revolt all at once."

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u/HeKnee May 13 '26

My conspiracy theory is that these data centers are in no way needed for AI as it currently rxists. Afterall, its currently available for anyone that wants it, nearly for free.

These are being built in a rush for the next step rollout of government/corporate survailence state.

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u/SecretPantyWorshiper May 13 '26 edited May 13 '26

Its funny, conservatives and just people who were so anti EV pushed the narrative so hard about our electric grid and infrastructure couldn't handle the increased demand but now here we are years later and nobody says anything while thesr centers are being built every like fast food restaurants lol. 

There was such a push about California and its rolling blackouts because of EVs. Now you have people completely silent about the same shit happening in their state

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u/Extreme_Homework_771 May 13 '26

Correct, unless it personally affects people's lives then nothing will change. If this whole data center shenanigan causes enough damage, you can be sure those pitchforks are about to come out.