Amazon pledges $1 billion

Amazon pledges $1 billion to local communities amid backlash over data center expansion

Amazon.com has pledged to spend over $1 billion over the next five years on initiatives for communities near its server farms in response to backlash over its massive buildout of computing infrastructure. The pledge was made by Matt Garman, CEO of Amazon Web Services' cloud unit, who defended data center construction in a 3,100-word essay comparing it to the creation of the interstate highway system. The additional $1 million will be used to fund workforce training programs, community energy efficiency upgrades, nonprofit grants, and other initiatives. Local opponents have raised concerns about land use, water and power needs, noise, and the environmental impact of server farms. Amazon, the largest seller of rented computing power and data storage, is spending $220 billion in capital expenditures this year, mostly on data centers.

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