Amazon Pledges Data Center Funds

Amazon announced a data center commitment program that will invest more than $1 billion over five years in communities where it builds facilities. It said it will publish annual energy and water use, drop nondisclosure agreements, and make its data centers water positive by 2030. The pledge lands amid rising local and state resistance, including more than 100 proposed moratoriums and other restrictions across the U.S. One report found at least 45 blocked developments across 27 states worth $68 billion. AWS CEO Matt Garman said slowing construction would hurt the U.S. in the global AI race. Critics called the plan damage control and said it does too little on pollution. Local communities will help decide spending.