The drought-hit region of Aragon in north-east Spain has become a magnet for American technology companies building data centres for artificial intelligence, NPR reports.
Amazon Web Services has pledged almost $40bn for several large complexes there, and Microsoft and the investment firm Blackstone have also signed deals. The regional government, which promotes Aragon as the "Virginia of southern Europe", has offered tax breaks and a special fast-track planning status that allows land to be expropriated, removes mayors' power of veto and limits public objections to 23 working days. Regional economic counsellor Eva Valle said the industry was a new economy that was coming regardless.
Some residents feel shut out. In the village of Botorrita, Silvia Baselga's family learned from survey markers that a data centre larger than the village would be built within about 300ft of their home.
Source: NPR
