Well, this sucks :/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colossus_(supercomputer)#Envir...

quinncom 3 hours ago | parent | next [-]

One of the reasons I refuse to use xAI’s models is because of the outsized negative environmental impacts of the methane gas turbines.

Now I have to avoid Claude too.

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everfrustrated 2 hours ago | parent | next [-]

You realize natural gas is one of the more environmentally friendly methods of generating power. Lots of work went into moving to natural gas generation to improve the environmental impact for electricity generation.

This is nothing like burning coal.

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stuaxo an hour ago | parent [-]

This natural gas burning is suited too close to where people live.

	▲	everfrustrated an hour ago \| parent [-]
		You do understand natural gas burns very clean? People burn it in their houses to cook with it!

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bottlepalm 2 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

If you can make up an inconsequential arbitrary rationalization to not use a service then I’m sure you can do the opposite to convince yourself to use it.

That’s what virtue signaling is I guess - the action you’re taking is pointless, the only point is to tell everyone you’re taking it therefore feed the narrative forward?

The entire economy runs off gas turbines though this is the thing you boycott?

	▲	quinncom an hour ago \| parent \| next [-]
		Obviously I’m virtue signaling, and I hope instilling a feeling of shame in people who support businesses that contribute to climate change. But more than that, the emissions generated by the Colossus data centers are far worse than typical combined-cycle gas plants or data centers that buy renewable: these turbines emit NOx, fine particulates, carbon monoxide, and formaldehyde into a population-dense area. I thought people knew about this already. Post from last year: https://simonwillison.net/2025/Jun/12/xai-data-center/
	▲	data-ottawa 2 hours ago \| parent \| prev \| next [-]
		Sorry, what? Deciding not to spend money with a company you don't like is not pointless. The point is that you're not participating in something that you judge to be wrong. The world is full of things I feel are wrong yet have near zero power to stop. That does not mean I should willingly support those things.
	▲	formvoltron 2 hours ago \| parent \| prev \| next [-]
		gas turbines generally are for peaking. Not for base load. Hopefully Elon lets you into his glass bubble when the s** cooks on the fan.
	▲	LeoPanthera 2 hours ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		[dead]

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thrownthatway 3 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Why?

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chainwax 3 hours ago | parent [-]

I think he's referring to the fact that Colossus is powered by fossil fuels.

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kfrzcode 3 hours ago | parent | next [-]

literally the entire economy is powered by fossil fuels

	▲	HarHarVeryFunny 2 hours ago \| parent [-]
		As far as electricity goes, the US is currently 50/50 fossil fuels and renewables (solar, wind, etc).

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xienze 3 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

[flagged]

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thrownthatway 3 hours ago | parent [-]

[flagged]

	▲	davkan 2 hours ago \| parent \| next [-]
		Nazi feels like a close enough shorthand for “person who posts white nationalist and antisemitic views, supports authoritarian regimes, and seig heils on stage.”
	▲	nickthegreek 2 hours ago \| parent \| prev \| next [-]
		I think some people saw that salutes, the reposts, the praise of Orban and might have reached that conclusion.
	▲	morgoths_bane 2 hours ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		Honestly if he was a Nazi that would be less worse than whatever the fuck he is.

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thrownthatway 3 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

What’s wrong with burning fossil fuels for electricity?

	▲	formvoltron 2 hours ago \| parent \| next [-]
		Maybe because nature put them in the ground for a reason? Minor risk that taking what took 200 million years to put into the ground out in a few hundred years?
	▲	morgoths_bane 2 hours ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		It may be more productive to ask what is right with burning fossil fuels for electricity right in the middle of marginalized communities that have to bear the cost of this pollution for AI slop.