Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallAmazon’s October 2, 2026 announcement pairs more than $1 billion in new U.S. community investment over five years with a pledge to stop using nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) with government agencies on its data-center projects. At the same time, AWS CEO Matt Garman argues that local data-center moratoriums could weaken U.S. competitiveness in artificial intelligence. The commitments address some local concerns; they do not resolve every question about who bears the costs and impacts of data-center growth.
What Amazon announced
Amazon calls its new framework Built Together. The company says it adds more than $1 billion over five years to its existing community investments in U.S. communities where it operates data centers. Its three focus areas are education and workforce pathways, community energy affordability and water solutions, and funding directed by local communities. Amazon says residents and organizations will help identify local priorities. These are announced plans, not completed outcomes. Amazon’s announcement and program information describe the commitments.
Education and job training
Amazon’s targets include free degree access for more than 300,000 students and preparing up to 100,000 learners annually for skilled jobs by the end of 2028. The announcement does not make those targets evidence that the students have already received access or that the annual training goal has been reached.
Energy upgrades
The company aims to fund energy upgrades for more than 30,000 homes and more than 300 schools and community buildings. Amazon estimates that improvements could cut energy costs by 20–40%, but says actual savings may vary. Bills can still change with utility rates, weather, and household use, so the estimate is not a guaranteed reduction.
Recommended Free Tools
#1 Best Overall
- Save valuable floor space: 6U wall mount server cabinet Dimensions: 13.78" H x21.65" W x17.72" D.Maximum mounting depth is 14.2"
- Keep critical network equipment secure: glass door and side panels are lockable to prevent unauthorized access. Front door can be installed on either side of the front of the cabinet to satisfy your door swing orientation preference
- Easy equipment configuration: Fully adjustable mounting rails and numbered U positions, with square holes for easy equipment mounting with top and bottom punch-out panels for easy cable access
- Durability: Made of high quality cold rolled steel holds up to 110lb (50kg) (Easy Assembly Required)
- PCI & HIPPA and EIA/ECA-310-E compliant
What the NDA pledge covers—and what remains unclear
Amazon says it will stop using NDAs with government agencies on its data-center projects. It also commits to holding open houses, sharing information earlier, and publishing annual data on energy use, efficiency, water use, water efficiency, and the share of energy from carbon-free sources. These are company commitments; the announcement does not establish independent monitoring or enforcement arrangements.
The pledge’s reach beyond direct dealings with agencies is unresolved. WIRED reports that Amazon did not answer whether the policy extends to developers or contractors working on its projects. That distinction matters because an intermediary, rather than Amazon itself, may hold an agreement that limits what local officials or communities can disclose. WIRED’s account of Amazon data-center NDAs also describes earlier disputes in Tucson and South Bend. In Tucson, an NDA kept the end tenant undisclosed until the project was identified as Amazon’s; Amazon has since exited that project.
Why Amazon is warning against moratoriums
Garman says more than 100 data-center moratoriums were being considered across the country. He argues that if enacted, the United States could lose ground in the AI race, with consequences lasting generations. That is Amazon’s case against restrictions, not a verified forecast of what any particular moratorium would cause. Garman compares digital infrastructure to the interstate highway system and says private industry, rather than taxpayers, is paying for the current buildout. Amazon’s post gives his argument; the Associated Press report places it amid broader debate over data-center expansion.
Rank #2
- Save valuable floor space: 12U wall mount server cabinet Dimensions: 24.25" H x21.65" W x17.72" D. MAXIMUM MOUNTING DEPTH is 14.2".
- Keep critical network equipment secure: glass door and side panels are lockable to prevent unauthorized access; Front door can be installed on either side of the front of the cabinet to satisfy your door swing orientation preference
- Easy equipment configuration: Fully adjustable mounting rails and numbered U positions, with square holes for easy equipment mounting with top and bottom punchout panels for easy cable access
- Durability: Made of high quality cold rolled steel holds up to 110lb (50kg) (Easy Assembly Required)
- PCI & HIPPA and EIA/ECA-310-E compliant
Other reported figures describe different periods and should not be combined: Data Center Watch said more than 120 U.S. projects worth nearly $200 billion had been blocked or delayed in the first half of 2026, as reported by Gizmodo. For the first quarter alone, Data Center Watch put the count at at least 75 projects worth about $130 billion, according to GeekWire. These are reported estimates, not a single tally for the same time window. Amazon’s expected $220 billion in 2026 capital expenditures, also reported by GeekWire and the AP, covers Amazon-wide investment—not a data-center-only budget.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesWhat Amazon says about resource impacts
Amazon’s announcement also disputes claims about water use, electricity rates, generator pollution, and local benefits. It says an average Amazon data center uses less than 13,000 gallons of water per day, most backup generators run roughly 10 hours annually, and its global data-center power usage effectiveness (PUE) was 1.14 in 2025. Those are company-reported figures, not independent audits or proof that every site has the same footprint. PUE compares a facility’s total energy use with the energy used by its IT equipment; it is an efficiency measure, not a complete account of a facility’s community impacts. Amazon’s post presents the figures.
The company also says new sites will use backup generators meeting EPA Tier 4 emissions standards, or equivalent standards in other regions, and that it will work with utilities so its payments cover energy and infrastructure costs related to its projects. These pledges do not, by themselves, establish how costs or emissions will be measured at each location.
Rank #3
- Sturdy:4u server rack is construct from cold rolled steel, with a weight capacity of 110lbs(50kg); Electrostatic powder coat prevents rust and corrosion,quality finish
- Direct use:Open and use, not having to assemble it.Network rack can be placed flat or mounted on the wall,also can be installed vertically under the table
- Design Features:maximum mounting depth of 14 in,cables can be fixed on the side panel;Open frame server rack achieves effortless inspection, replacement and assemble
- Installation:wall mount network rack is easy to install,with instructions or videos for reference;Equipped with multiple accessories, suitable for different needs
- Application:EIA/ECA-310-E Compliant;wall mounted 4u rack fits all 19" racks and cabinets to hold various IT, network, and AV equipment;wall mount rack available in 4U, 6U, and 8U to choose
Why critics say the concessions are not enough
Residents and local officials have raised concerns about electricity prices, water supply, pollution, noise, land use, tax arrangements, and limited transparency. In its 2026 reporting, the AP said about six in ten Americans supported limiting the number of new data centers, while a majority were very or extremely concerned about electricity prices or water impacts in host communities. Those are poll findings as reported by the AP, not a claim that every community or resident holds the same view.
Environmental advocates quoted by Ars Technica welcomed the potential transparency benefit of ending NDAs but argued that the pledge does not settle pollution and water impacts from power infrastructure and data-center operations. Stand.earth also questioned the scale of community funding relative to Amazon’s planned investment. These are the advocates’ assessments; Amazon, in turn, says its community programs and operating commitments respond to local concerns. Ars Technica’s coverage reports their response.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Amazon’s post suggests foreign actors may spread misinformation to slow U.S. data-center growth. WIRED reports that experts view this narrative as overblown and find little evidence that Chinese misinformation is driving the backlash. The foreign-influence claim should therefore be understood as Amazon’s suggestion, not an established explanation for local opposition.
What to watch as the plan is put into practice
The announcement sets out meaningful targets and disclosure promises, but their value will depend on implementation. For a community evaluating a proposed facility, the practical questions are whether the information arrives early enough to inform local decisions, whether disclosures cover contractors as well as Amazon, and whether promised community benefits and infrastructure payments can be assessed against measurable results.
Quick Recap
- Track whether Amazon publishes the promised annual energy, water, efficiency, and carbon-free-energy information in a form that can be compared over time.
- Check whether local project documents identify who is party to any confidentiality agreement, including developers and contractors.
- Ask how utility costs, grid upgrades, water demand, and generator emissions will be measured for the specific site, rather than relying on company-wide averages.
- Distinguish program targets and projected bill savings from completed upgrades and documented household results.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
