• bigfondue@lemmy.world
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    7 days ago

    You could consider it an extractive industry like mineral mining. In this case the electricity and water are turned into profit. It creates some short term local jobs like construction, but the system administrators are likely hired from elsewhere. The R&D is likely being done elsewhere as well. Most of the money these businesses spend goes straight to Nvidia and the profit goes straight to a small group of executives and investors.

    • Laser@feddit.org
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      7 days ago

      At least mining did create some local jobs, though I do think that the area itself loses out because it’s a finite resource and the environmental impact is always there. And as you said, these modern examples don’t really require a big local workforce. It doesn’t stimulate the local economy a bit.

      • sugarfoot00@lemmy.ca
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        6 days ago

        Presumably they also pay some taxes, although it sounds like may of these places set up in unincorporated areas to avoid such things.

        • declaredreprimand@piefed.social
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          6 days ago

          Often the municipalities will offer tax breaks in order for the mega corps to set up shop in their town, so they often don’t pay taxes.