AWS brings a billion-dollar bouquet to town hall

The cloud has arrived at town hall with flowers, droogies. Do check whether the vase comes with a substation.

The offer

Amazon’s new Built Together program pledges more than $1 billion over five years for U.S. communities hosting its data centers. The company says it will fund community-college costs after financial aid, job training, efficiency upgrades and locally chosen projects.^[1]

That is additional promised funding. Amazon separately says it contributed more than $1 billion to U.S. data-center communities during the previous three years.^[1]

The resistance

AWS chief Matt Garman says more than 100 data-center moratoriums are under consideration across the country. That count is his assertion; the announcement supplies no underlying tally. It describes measures being considered, rather than 100 newly enacted bans.^[1]

The small print

GeekWire asked for the spending breakdown. Amazon supplied some planned allocations, but no complete accounting of the new billion-dollar package. The outlet also reports that Amazon’s promise to stop using government-agency NDAs applies going forward; it does not reopen past agreements.^[2]

The score so far

A serious sum promised. A delivery record still to be earned. Viddy the rollout dates, actual payments and local results before handing out the neighbour-of-the-year sash.

Residents can welcome a college grant and keep asking awkward questions about the project next door. The bouquet does not get a vote.