Big Tech is bankrolling massive clean energy projects in the Pacific Northwest to power the data centers of the future.

These carbon-free energy gambles are being built here for a reason: Washington and Oregon have some of the most aggressive mandates to ditch fossil fuels on the books. But before those laws take effect, Big Tech is driving demand for fossil fuels in the region—and elsewhere in the country, the industry is causing a gas boom. 

On today's episode, is the tech industry pushing us toward a clean energy revolution, or reversing progress on global warming?  

Coming up: Sometimes it can feel like taking care of the planet will break the bank. What are your budget friendly hacks for being a good environmental steward? Give us a call at (206) 221-7158 and leave a voicemail. You can also email us at booming@kuow.org.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/boomingnotes.

Booming is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is Carol Smith. Our producers are Lucy Soucek and Alec Cowan. Our hosts are Joshua McNichols and Monica Nickelsburg.

Big Tech is bankrolling massive clean energy projects in the Pacific Northwest to power the data centers of the future.
These carbon-free energy gambles are being built here for a reason: Washington and Oregon have some of the most aggressive mandates to ditch fossil fuels on the books. But before those laws take effect, Big Tech is driving demand for fossil fuels in the region&mdash;and elsewhere in the country, the industry is causing a gas boom.&nbsp;
On today's episode, is the tech industry pushing us toward a clean energy revolution, or reversing progress on global warming?&nbsp;&nbsp;
Coming up: Sometimes it can feel like taking care of the planet will break the bank. What are your budget friendly hacks for being a good environmental steward? Give us a call at <a href="tel:2062217158" data-stringify-link="tel:2062217158" data-sk="tooltip_parent">(206) 221-7158</a> and leave a voicemail. You can also email us at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:booming@kuow.org">booming@kuow.org</a>. Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to <a href="http://kuow.org/donate/boomingnotes">kuow.org/donate/boomingnotes</a>. Booming is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is <a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/carol-smith">Carol Smith</a>. Our producers are <a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/lucy-soucek">Lucy Soucek</a> and <a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/alec-cowan">Alec Cowan</a>. Our hosts are <a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/joshua-mcnichols">Joshua McNichols</a> and <a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/monica-nickelsburg">Monica Nickelsburg</a>.

Booming is a weekly podcast about the economic forces shaping our lives here in the Pacific Northwest. The Seattle area's been home to many booms over the years. It’s brought jobs, people, and wealth to the region, but also real growing pains that people here feel every day. In Booming, KUOW economy reporters Joshua McNichols and Monica Nickelsburg help listeners make sense of our ever-changing economy. We'll dig into what people are seeing or feeling and unpack the story behind it.

Booming is a weekly podcast about the economic forces shaping our lives here in the Pacific Northwest. The Seattle area's been home to many booms over the years. It&rsquo;s brought jobs, people, and wealth to the region, but also real growing pains that people here feel every day. In&nbsp;Booming, KUOW economy reporters Joshua McNichols and Monica Nickelsburg help listeners make sense of our ever-changing economy. We'll dig into what people are seeing or feeling and unpack the story behind it.

Booming

Washington and Oregon have some of the most aggressive mandates to ditch fossil fuels on the books. But before those laws take effect, Big Tech is driving demand for fossil fuels in the region.

Big Tech is bankrolling the clean energy transition... while emitting more than ever

Seattle’s city council just approved a one-year moratorium on data centers within city limits – making the city the biggest in the country to ban them. 

The move comes after several big developers proposed data center projects that could use up to a third of the power that Seattle uses on an average day.  

On today's episode, what do data center companies want to be in Seattle for, anyway? And are we better off without them? 

Coming up: Sometimes it can feel like taking care of the planet will break the bank. What are your budget friendly hacks for being a good environmental steward? Give us a call at (206) 221-7158 and leave a voicemail. You can also email us at booming@kuow.org.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/boomingnotes.

Booming is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is Carol Smith. Our producers are Lucy Soucek and Alec Cowan. Our hosts are Joshua McNichols and Monica Nickelsburg.

Seattle&rsquo;s city council <a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/seattle-data-center-ban-heads-to-mayor-wilson-s-desk">just approved</a> a one-year moratorium on data centers within city limits &ndash; making the city the biggest in the country to ban them.&nbsp;
The move comes after several big developers proposed data center projects that could use up to a third of the power that Seattle uses on an average day. &nbsp;
On today's episode, what do data center companies want to be in Seattle for, anyway? And are we better off without them?&nbsp;
Coming up: Sometimes it can feel like taking care of the planet will break the bank. What are your budget friendly hacks for being a good environmental steward? Give us a call at&nbsp;<a href="tel:2062217158" data-stringify-link="tel:2062217158" data-sk="tooltip_parent">(206) 221-7158</a> and leave a voicemail. You can also email us at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:booming@kuow.org">booming@kuow.org</a>. Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to <a href="http://kuow.org/donate/boomingnotes">kuow.org/donate/boomingnotes</a>. Booming is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is <a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/carol-smith">Carol Smith</a>. Our producers are <a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/lucy-soucek">Lucy Soucek</a> and <a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/alec-cowan">Alec Cowan</a>. Our hosts are <a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/joshua-mcnichols">Joshua McNichols</a> and <a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/monica-nickelsburg">Monica Nickelsburg</a>.

What do data center companies want to be in Seattle for, anyway? And are we better off without them? 

Seattle banned data centers. Now what? 

CEOs have been making some bold claims about how artificial intelligence will change work—that in the future, the work week will shrink to four days or fewer, or that a job will be as optional as growing vegetables at home instead of buying them from the grocery store. 

Whether AI makes us work more or less, there’s no question it’s already changing the way millions of people do their jobs. 

On today's episode, how is AI transforming the workplace now? And how can everyday workers prepare for the future?

Coming up: We're looking into the "IRL Economy." Are there any real world experiences you've turned to because you're tired of using an app, or being online? We'd love to hear from you. Give us a call at (206) 221-7158 and leave a voicemail. You can also email us at booming@kuow.org.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/boomingnotes.

Booming is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is Carol Smith. Our producers are Lucy Soucek and Alec Cowan. Our hosts are Joshua McNichols and Monica Nickelsburg.

CEOs have been making some bold claims about how artificial intelligence will change work&mdash;that in the future, the work week will shrink to four days or fewer, or that a job will be as optional as growing vegetables at home instead of buying them from the grocery store.&nbsp;
Whether AI makes us work more or less, there&rsquo;s no question it&rsquo;s already changing the way millions of people do their jobs.&nbsp;
On today's episode, how is AI transforming the workplace now? And how can everyday workers prepare for the future?
Coming up: We're looking into the "IRL Economy." Are there any real world experiences you've turned to because you're tired of using an app, or being online? We'd love to hear from you. Give us a call at <a href="tel:2062217158" data-stringify-link="tel:2062217158" data-sk="tooltip_parent">(206) 221-7158</a> and leave a voicemail. You can also email us at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:booming@kuow.org">booming@kuow.org</a>. Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to <a href="http://kuow.org/donate/boomingnotes">kuow.org/donate/boomingnotes</a>. Booming is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is <a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/carol-smith">Carol Smith</a>. Our producers are <a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/lucy-soucek">Lucy Soucek</a> and <a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/alec-cowan">Alec Cowan</a>. Our hosts are <a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/joshua-mcnichols">Joshua McNichols</a> and <a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/monica-nickelsburg">Monica Nickelsburg</a>.

CEOs have been making some bold claims about how artificial intelligence will change work—that in the future, the work week will shrink to four days or fewer, or that a job will be as optional as growing vegetables instead of buying them from the grocery store. 

4-day work week or brain fry? How AI will change work

Recent data show a record number of Americans are now sharing a home with people they’re not related to. 

Most of these roommates are renting, because living alone has gotten really expensive.  

But what if we made it easier for friends to own a place together instead? Could it be the game changer that allows them to live the American dream? 

More and more people are thinking about buying or building homes together with friends.  

These projects can be complicated to organize... and expensive to pay for. So how are people in Seattle making it happen? 

On today's episode, we explore two very different ways some creative Seattleites are making cohousing achievable.   

Coming up: Are you using AI agents? Do you have a task that you want an AI agent to complete for you? We'd love to hear from you. Give us a call at (206) 221-7158 and leave a voicemail. You can also email us at booming@kuow.org.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/boomingnotes.

Booming is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is Carol Smith. Our producers are Lucy Soucek and Alec Cowan. Our hosts are Joshua McNichols and Monica Nickelsburg.

Recent data show a record number of Americans are now sharing a home with people they&rsquo;re not related to.&nbsp;
Most of these roommates are renting,&nbsp;because living alone has gotten really expensive.&nbsp;&nbsp;
But what if we made it easier for friends to own a place together instead? Could it be the game changer that allows them to live the American dream?&nbsp;
More and more&nbsp;people are&nbsp;thinking about&nbsp;buying&nbsp;or building&nbsp;homes together with friends.&nbsp;&nbsp;
These projects can be complicated to organize... and expensive to pay for. So how are people in Seattle making it happen?&nbsp;
On today's episode, we explore two very different ways some creative Seattleites are making cohousing achievable.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Coming up: Are you using AI agents? Do you have a task that you want an AI agent to complete for you? We'd love to hear from you. Give us a call at&nbsp;<a href="tel:2062217158" data-stringify-link="tel:2062217158" data-sk="tooltip_parent">(206) 221-7158</a> and leave a voicemail. You can also email us at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:booming@kuow.org">booming@kuow.org</a>. Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to <a href="http://kuow.org/donate/boomingnotes">kuow.org/donate/boomingnotes</a>. Booming is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is <a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/carol-smith">Carol Smith</a>. Our producers are <a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/lucy-soucek">Lucy Soucek</a> and <a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/alec-cowan">Alec Cowan</a>. Our hosts are <a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/joshua-mcnichols">Joshua McNichols</a> and <a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/monica-nickelsburg">Monica Nickelsburg</a>.

More and more people are thinking about buying or building homes together with friends. These projects can be complicated to organize... and expensive to pay for.  So how are people in Seattle making it happen? 

Big Tech is bankrolling the clean energy transition... while emitting more than ever

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