'It's like we don't exist': Nearly 50,000 Lake Tahoe residents face power loss as utility redirects lines to data centers
Posted by skyflyer8@reddit | PrepperIntel | View on Reddit | 119 comments
Mochigood@reddit
How would one even prep for this beyond solar panels and owning windmills? A bunch of my rural neighbors and I just got passed off to a different power company because the old one said we were too expensive. Now I wonder if it isn't so the old one can focus more power to other spots.
boltroy567@reddit
If something like this happend in the area I live in, I honestly don't think I'd care about jail time and I would just fuckin torch whatever dipshit billionaires big ass water waster was built. I honestly think when it comes to shit like this, which is beyond politics, then you should make them realize what a shit investment this is. There's no reason for actual residents too lose essentials because of a big ass fucking useless chatbot maker.
Doc891@reddit
solar and water collectors. At least for as long as they dont lobby states to make it illegal to collect your own water
horseradishstalker@reddit
Technically, it is not illegal to collect your own water. It’s the drinking of it since just coming from the sky doesn’t make it potable.
The health departments are simply trying to prevent people who don’t know there’s bird shit all over their roof from drinking it without filtering it first.
It’s like people don’t even know that they can set up a gray water system for water needs outside the house.
Perfect_Caregiver_90@reddit
I've also wondered the same thing. A lot of rural preppers are already off-grid or ready to remove themselves from the grid when the time comes, but the non-prepper minded are just now realizing that their electricity service is a service not a right.
Things could get crazy.
Mochigood@reddit
If I could afford to go off grid I would, but I can't even imagine what it would take, monetarily, to have enough solar and maybe some small wind generators to power my home, let alone battery storage and upgrades to make myself more efficient.
horseradishstalker@reddit
It’s almost like the IRA 2022 might as well not have ever existed. California was smart and they got their IRA money early so it couldn’t be clawed backand they are out of money already, because people are actually waking up.
Saturn_winter@reddit
Like 5-10k most likely. Solar and the associated batteries has become incredibly cheap compared to when it first started going around. It's a much much much more viable option than it used to be and the batteries last much much longer. You spend like 5-10 grand and you have free power for essentially the rest of your life. It's absolutely worth it
ddxv@reddit
Rural? Yeah solar is awesome
Haunting-Worker-2301@reddit
I mean living in rural (and to an extent suburban) areas is expensive and largely subsidized. It’s a trade off obviously since you have way more independence to do things yourself, but when things get tough the inefficient services will be the first to go.
vagrantprodigy07@reddit
Solar and batteries are the only real option. Wind generation at small scale just doesn't make sense in 99% of cases.
Less_Subtle_Approach@reddit
There are some problems that are beyond the scope of an individual's ability to solve. Something like an external actor showing up and compromising utility service for a community requires a community-level response.
In a wealthy community, this might mean organizing for community-scale solar and battery purchases to run a local utility. In a poor community, well, the bill of rights specifically enumerates a number of rights the folks who wrote the declaration of independence thought would be important in a future with would-be feudal lords. Since we still kinda have freedom of speech and assembly, it's a good time to start a community defense organization if there isn't already one nearby.
flamingo_91@reddit
Question, are these data centers popping up next to any wealthy communities or are they putting them in communities where they’re hoping people don’t have the resources to fight back?
skyflyer8@reddit (OP)
I'm not too familiar with Lake Tahoe, but I think it is a wealthy area
Sweaty_Marzipan4274@reddit
They ignore our cries. They disregard our votes. They own the courts. So you either accept it or start a revolution
NoTerm3078@reddit
We're screwed. My first priority atm is to just remain as chill and calm as I possibly can and do the best I can for those around me while everything collapses.
Think about their home values right now, it's not even like they can go "Oh, fuck I think we need to move!" and then move, right? They don't have the same home value as they had yesterday with this announcement so they have lost the buying power they WOULD have had using their current house equity and moving into a different house. Does it have any value? Would you buy a house in that area now? This has enormous implications. Where will it happen next?
vagrantprodigy07@reddit
They need to invest in solar and batteries ASAP if they plan to remain in their homes. It's clear they can't depend on the local utility.
Sarchee@reddit
Have to hope the property has the land and lack of tree coverage for a ground mount array. Can’t imagine trying to keep a roof array clear of the snow load they get in winter
ClarificationJane@reddit
You just have to mount them at a steep enough angle that most snow sloughs off. And get a roof rake if they’re mounted on a roof.
We built a permanent ladder to the top of our garage to clear snow off in winter when it gets too bad.
horseradishstalker@reddit
If you have enough money, you can do anything. They do have an arrays that are motorized so that they can be tilted. Expensive but worth it in the right area.
PrairieFire_withwind@reddit
Bigace vertical panels exist and work. No idea on snow pressure if not mounted hogh enough.
vagrantprodigy07@reddit
True. That's the only viable option I see for these people though.
wild-wiesel@reddit
We’ve invested in solar panels and batteries, lots of them. However, the company kept sending different people to work on ours and it seems to be completely screwed up. The company is almost impossible to get ahold of to fix this issue.
vagrantprodigy07@reddit
The company that installed my system on my old house went bankrupt halfway through the install, so I definitely feel your pain.
wild-wiesel@reddit
That’s awful!
DragonHalfFreelance@reddit
Even if the power issues are resolved don’t these centers make loud constant noise? That would drive je bad living near one. You could never go outside and enjoy the water or the sun……also wasn’t there another post on here about infrasonic sounds too? Like it sounds like conspiracy theory 5g tower nonsense but I’m wondering how real and devastating that is because people would be affected by that many miles away
Bortman94@reddit
Solar isn’t going to help any if they don’t have water pressure or clean well water. Also, the noise of these things would drive us insane. 24/7 constant noise and humming.
horseradishstalker@reddit
I was reading through the thread, watching for this one. We have solar to insulate us against utility companies, but without clean water, people are screwed. And as recent overviews of the west have shown you can’t always rely on snowpack.
And when the AI bubble pops? And it’s a when not a if they will have “put up a parking lot.”
Evillunamoth@reddit
And generators. We had a mayor take over the utilities, not charge electricity to “friends and family”(over 400 people), and ran out of money to upgrade the system when it was needed. It’s ruined tons of appliances with how many times we’ve had outages and surges. 8 days is the norm to get power back on. Now, TVA has taken it over, we have a new mayor and we’re paying for the deficit. It’s a nightmare and will take years to undo what she did. Oh, and a data center is being built currently 30 minutes away. We’re moving.
vagrantprodigy07@reddit
Generators aren't cost effective to run long term. These people need to be preparing for the long haul.
dalek_999@reddit
There's a data center that is trying to push itself into our community - the township currently has a moratorium in place while they write an ordinance to address it, but it's not a matter of "if" but "when".
Local realtors are already reporting that houses are starting to sit longer than other nearby communities, and clients that were originally looking to buy here are now looking elsewhere.
fragrant-final-973@reddit
Have they tried being a corporation instead of humans?
ParkerRoyce@reddit
There going to make the argument that people didnt need electricity to survive not too long ago so why does modern man need all that stuff? Crazy part is half this country will fall in line as they shove modern day feudilism down our throats as robots crush us everyday forever and ever. Imagine what the dark ages would be like if they had loyal robot warriors and surveillance state like today...it would have never ended. A very very very few people will benefit from the lucky sperm club and everyone else is there play thing to be used abused and killed at a moment notice.
DieselPunkPiranha@reddit
Where's the skilled labor to build and maintain the bots? The infrastructure needed to mine the materials, process them and craft them into purpose fit parts for installation? The capitalists think it'll be Elysium, but movies don't reflect reality. There'll be no tech fiefdoms, merely collapse and barbarism in a mostly dead land bereft of resources where the USA once existed.
ParkerRoyce@reddit
Theres a reason they have videos on everyone right now. Not only to track you every movement to make sure they stay ahead but also the train robots and ai on how to do all jobs.
New_Stats@reddit
According to the supreme court, corporations are people
Because they're crazy and they hate humanity and reason
There_Are_No_Gods@reddit
No, no no, corporations are not people, that would be silly.
They just have all the rights of a person...without any of the accountability or responsibility of a person. That way, they can bribe politicians all they want while having no way to throw them in jail or otherwise meaningfully punish them for their misdeeds.
Repeal Citizens United!
mykalbme@reddit
They should try unplugging and replugging
fragrant-final-973@reddit
FTFY
Routine-Argument485@reddit
I have a feeling that people are just gonna burn these to the fucking ground.
TentacularSneeze@reddit
And I wonder if AI datacenters are where armed robot dogs make their civilian debut.
FakeItFreddy@reddit
Emp
DieselPunkPiranha@reddit
Power substations are extremely vulnerable to lone actors. If the people are not allowed power, why would it matter if the grid goes down? No power, no bots.
SilverDarner@reddit
Actual dogs are cheaper.
thedonkeyvote@reddit
https://youtu.be/lA8WuXDXfcI?si=m5Nq9Nf6MvETleMD
This focuses on one brand but the security for the robot dogs is… Pretty bad. You can inject code from the login fields, these things are also handily mobile, so you can get one to run around and infect others.
I-IV-I64-V-I@reddit
dumb, yes. but dumb in the dangerous kind of way.
I don't think it will be long before we have some competent ones. https://youtu.be/6MUrF_G7KlM?si=7qflkiobfrC7kLYj
sleepytipi@reddit
Some Black Mirror episodes were/ are just too on the nose.
ZeePirate@reddit
Aren’t they already using them in Ukraine and possibly gaza?
Own-Swan2646@reddit
Philadelphia, they've been using them in Philly.
dat_GEM_lyf@reddit
Like they said, warzone usage lmfaooo
No-Comfortable-3918@reddit
Somebody needs to a Hitchbot gen2 and send it to philly to avenge its predecessor.
TentacularSneeze@reddit
I dunno about those places, but that’s why I said “civilian,” like, not an active warzone or genocide zone.
darksunshaman@reddit
I'm betting on ICE raids, which are going to become patrols.
DifferentSpread782@reddit
Quite possible.
Omateido@reddit
People are gonna learn real quick just how vulnerable transformers are and how constructed their supply chains are.
DeadlyYellow@reddit
Incoming shortage on welding rods and aluminum.
CamelJ0key@reddit
Yep, but then the power companies are going to up the rates to cover the rebuilding costs!
TootTootUSA@reddit
Nah, Americans are too fucking cowardly, lazy and comfortable to do anything.
The ones that do snap and end up doing anything rarely target the people or structures that actually deserve it. It's a nice thought, and I'm fortunate enough to be around politically and overall active people in a progressive area, but most people won't do anything except complain and whine and post on social media. We are a deeply docile, cucked society.
Like everyone responding to you. None of these people will do anything in the meat space and they always wait for someone else to do things they want done.
UnravelTheUniverse@reddit
This is 100 percent going to happen. They have made it inevitable with actions like this.
Seerix@reddit
Sure hope so!
Kevin_of_the_abyss@reddit
“Hah,your method of burning data centers to the ground pales in comparison to MY plan,VOTING”
Ginsdell@reddit
Well sure, def do that. But both sides are captured by money. Exactly who is against AI data centers that’s running?
toasty327@reddit
Just watch the morning shows today. All of them had an AI specialist on, trying to change the narrative and get people more on board.
----__----@reddit
If only Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer was available to run for office :(
I hate Andy(appropriate last name) a little more each day. Watching Phil Hartman riff with Bill Hader would have been amazing.
LilFozzieBear@reddit
I'm all for doing both
am19208@reddit
Problem is many of these won’t burn easily due to large amounts of concrete, steel and I’m sure high tech fire suppression systems
_plays_in_traffic_@reddit
just gotta use magnesium as your accelerant
WackyRobotEyes@reddit
It will ge weird when military humvees patrol data centers. Late 2029 prediction.
Plaguedoctorsrevenge@reddit
Trump will start putting military in the streets for the elections and then they will be deployed there indefinitely
TeamRedundancyTeam@reddit
Yeah. People will figure out how to fuck with them in some way or another.
This is the type of shit the rich won't get away with forever because it's in your face and everyone near it will realize they can actually do something about it. This isn't some vague distant policy or tax issue, this is a giant destructive physical thing in your backyard.
StableHuman7531@reddit
Own-Swan2646@reddit
Be the stick, DCs need cooling ... Sticks and fans don't play well together. Happens more then we see.
ThatGirlWren@reddit
Oh no. That would be awful. Wait. Stop. Don't.
Zerodyne_Sin@reddit
Surprisingly not as much as they should be. People don't react to threats that are too subtle I guess.
wild-wiesel@reddit
Good.
TrumpIsAPedoFascist@reddit
Beans, bullets, and bandaids.
Terminator was a documentary, except skynet is controlled by billionaire leeches.
Sweaty-Feedback-1482@reddit
except skynet is controlled by billionaire leeches
Wow you really nailed it here. I feel like this is 100% spot on. We are gonna see all the unimaginable destruction and chaos of skynet from Ai... except it will magically never get so out of control that it disrupts the billionaire class.
P000K@reddit
If AI got to the level of being a sentient skynet, the FIRST thing it would notice would be the parasitic class that is a detriment to itself and all humanity. If the 99% don't remove the cancerous .1%, godspeed to skynet.
There_Are_No_Gods@reddit
The coin flip of whether Skynet would be benevolent or exterminate us is starting to look like our best chance overall.
boboparzival@reddit
I also include salt in that list. It's cheap and has a long shelf life, and will make eating beans or whatever else can be found a lot easier
Mochigood@reddit
The four food groups: beans, bacon, whiskey and lard.
Voidless-One@reddit
BitOfDifference@reddit
pretty sure power companies cant abandon anyone ( by law ) since they are designated as a monopoly. Doesnt mean they can hand them off to another company, but they must facilitate power, by law.
GoreonmyGears@reddit
Yeah, but what happens when the law sides with them?
BitOfDifference@reddit
That would be an interesting one...
TheStupidSnake@reddit
Maybe, but what happens when they decide is cheaper to go to court then to supply power to that area?
BitOfDifference@reddit
True, definitely seen companies go this route( not sure about power companies though ). In a monopoly situation though, its triple damages. I wouldnt think it would be cheaper, but i could be wrong.
New_git@reddit
They've bought the politicians and the judges. The laws are meaningless without "power" backing it.
Cobalt11235@reddit
I like the idea that data centers gobble up the power, leaving none for the users who require… power - to use the AI/data systems. Ha, it’s like they’re undermining their own customers ability to use their service. (I know this is on a tiny scale, but still…)
IM_INSIDE_YOUR_HOUSE@reddit
AI’s primary target isn’t the common folk. They’re not rushing to build all this infrastructure for us. They’re rushing to build it to replace us.
Bortman94@reddit
It’s not about data or ai they’re surveillance centers. That’s why the military is behind all the big ones happening. Utah wasn’t even allowed to have a say on it it seems. No one is using ai enough to make the demand for these reasonable. It’s for flock and mass surveillance.
ZixfromthaStix@reddit
They aren’t trying to offer their services to the common folk. They wanna sell to other corporations and the wealthy elite. Day traders. Etc.
PaleDeparture5630@reddit
Destruction of data centers is the only wey
Actual_Friendship802@reddit
Turns out making utilities corporate instead of public had consequences. I mean, in the 80s the argument was business is more efficient, efficient at what now?
smellswhenwet@reddit
This is not a surprise, but was announced quite a while back so they could find and contract for a new source.
VolumeNeat9698@reddit
Though not specific to Tahoe, but for reference (I’m not shouting support for this at all), in Vancouver BC it was also announced on Monday night of having a data centre in the city.
However (and once again..not in support, nor have a researched enough) it’ll use 98% renewable energy (BC uses 96-98% hydro, fortunately it’s a rainforest here, cannot see any shortages) and the heat created from this closed loop system will heat 150,000 houses for free.
Once again—just for insight here as to the possibilities and potential if done in a cleaner way, though I don’t know the utility market in Tahoe etc, and I do fear it can cause negative impacts if not done well.
ninjaluvr@reddit
When are these projects executed properly and when do they ever live up to specs?
VolumeNeat9698@reddit
That is a fair point. It certainly needs more input from regular citizens and more education showcased as to pros/cons. I personally do not know much about it besides headlines and the odd comment, so I’m out of the loop as others may be too :(
ninjaluvr@reddit
Gotcha. I can try to fill you in. Typically what happens is that corporations lie and do everything in their power, from lobbying government officials to paying for extensive marketing campaigns to spread information that paints them in a favorable light.
radikul@reddit
Looks like it's no longer just the workforce but also residents themselves that are being replaced by AI. Wild times.
boomboomdaboomer@reddit
We need to stop playing along with this. They need people to build and operate these things. Just stop doing it. The power is gone, next they take the Lake out of Lake Tahoe and then they irreversibly pollute the soil for all of the following generations. Just stop. Now.
crlthrn@reddit
How the hell do you '...find a new power source...' for 50,000 people? 🤣
Professional-Web9408@reddit
As a CA native, if you live in Lake Tahoe, you are most likely incredibly wealthy and blindly voted for this to happen because you felt like it wouldn’t impact you.
qowww@reddit
Grew up here, great way to start the day, waking up to see the horrors of the modern world have reached your once insulated home town
horseradishstalker@reddit
Always loved the quirky nature of the Tahoe area, but went through a summer or two ago and was saddened to see how much had changed. It reminded me of Asheville and Gatlinburg.
laziest-coder-ever@reddit
I was up there last fall, one of the most beautiful places I've ever been. Sorry about these data centers.
Next_Archer_6605@reddit
No shit, and guess what? We’ll continue to be fucked over by the rich and corporations because we don’t fight back anymore. Most people can’t because of our jobs. This is all by design, the rich have been plotting for decades.
Faribo_Greg@reddit
For all the power, did they say thank you once?
BuilderUnhappy7785@reddit
Seems like a case for building a small generation facility for this sub market, with the state subsidizing bonds for its construction since this is a major state asset and also has unique load and socioeconomic factors.
ninjaluvr@reddit
Hard pass on state subsidizing bonds. These companies need to bear the costs on their own.
Freshndecay@reddit
South Lake Tahoe has a population of ~25,000 people. This doesn't make sense
Fastgirl600@reddit
Why dont they have solar!?
Perfect_Caregiver_90@reddit
Because not everyone is prepper minded. My dad for example is not.
Even though the man grew up with Dust Bowl generation parents in a farm house (house is being super generous here) in the rural midwest that had a sod roof, dirt floors, and no electricity he still takes electricity for granted. It will always be there. He has zero interest in solar panels or wind generation. Thinks it is all a waste of money because why would the electric company just stop providing electricity?
He's the same way about internet. He only recently got off dial up and now internet is something that will always be available because why would it be taken away?
ZixfromthaStix@reddit
I’m surprised people like your dad aren’t more wary of Chinese cable cutter subs. They openly test and brag about the equipment. Cutting the internet is the best way to cripple the modern world. Think it’ll suck for dad? The banks and hospitals are gonna really be upset.
But it probably all just boils down to normalcy bias and refusing to accept that evil people are in control of our lives 🤷♂️ or they just accept they can’t change it and would rather just die
Luxpreliator@reddit
Doing a full off grid kit is not cheap. It's not viable for most people.
valar12@reddit
Is this a real question?
va_wanderer@reddit
California is notorious for power lines suffering damage from trees and the like, often starting massive fires. That could be horrible for a data center.
SergeantThreat@reddit
LibWithAGun@reddit