To be more precise about it, the local governments are seizing people’s land on behalf of the power companies, not the companies themselves as implied by the headline. My point is that we should not let the governments and the elected officials off the hook here. To the extent that we’re doing democracy anymore, there’s presumably a mechanism to stop more of this.
this post was submitted on 19 Jul 2026
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It's more been threatened than actually happened, but I would suggest keeping in mind that the issue isn't eminent domain or the power companies (though obviously fuck them, they should be nationalized), the issue is the data centers and the government not restricting those. If more power is needed there's not much to be done other than build more power infrastructure. The issue is allowing these data centers to be built in such an unsustainable and harmful way that puts pressure on the grid.
Why are private businesses using the public tool of eminent domain? That's corruption.
they arent. only government can do it and it hasnt happened yet.
It doesn't have to get as far as eminent domain. In at least one Georgia case the land was condemned by local authorities, the start of the legal process of eminent domain, and the family was no longer able to live in it regardless. So the use of eminent domain as a threat to force the sale of privately held land is already happening.
This quote is from one article of many about how non-local companies use condemnation as a tool to steal land, and how that has a very long history in the US. This particular article is about how a community in Nashville attempted to use condemnation in the other direction, condemning a property wanted by a data center so that no one could use it, but it gives the history pretty well.
This is the first NIMBY I can get behind.
This is more of a NIABY: Not in anyone's back yard.
Indeed, usually a NIMBY is seen as bad because while they do want the value of the thing they reject, they just don't want to deal with the downsides personally.
Here the folks are generally already satisfied with what the existing infrastructure provides, so if there's no datacenter growth overall, that's fine by them.
NIMBYism is usually just other people's backyards anyway
nimby would never allow it near thier wealthy neighborhoods, its always low-income districts.
If you read the story, it has happened zero times.
But it has been threatened several to coerce people into sales...
So even the headline is a lie. The data centers are bad enough. No need to embellish or use misinformation.
Idk man being robbed at gunpoint kinda sucks whether you give up your wallet or not.
Whether the gun is used to rob you by shooting you before taking your wallet, or threatening people so they have no choice but to hand you your wallet or get shot, in either case the gun was used to rob you.
So then why exaggerate or make stuff up? Just stick to the facts.
It was neither exaggerated, nor made up. You’re just hopelessly obtuse.
Or maybe I English better because I know the difference between 'are using' and 'could use'.
They are using it, as I’ve explained to you. You’re just a lil slow on the uptake
From the story, they are not. No need to be an asshole. From the story, quote where this has happened. Spoiler: It hasn't.
From the story, they are. I’ve explained this to you, not going to again.
Cheers. Have a great day!
this is like the foxconn scam, in the trumps 1st term. the govt used "blight" as a way to forcibley remove people form the area so they can build thier factories there.
China has been pretty direct about it with their east to west project. So far I really haven't heard anyone in China complaining but maybe that's because of their strict media control.