Fox Business host Dagen McDowell defended a proposed power mission that will energy synthetic intelligence information facilities in Virginia by operating high-voltage transmission traces by means of three Maryland counties, regardless of objections from an area Christmas tree farm.
“The Big Money Show” co-host dismissed the farm’s considerations Friday following Fox correspondent Darren Botelho’s report from Gaver Farm in Mount Airy, the place 4 transmission towers for the $424 million Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project are set to be constructed.
Gaver Farm agrotourism supervisor Laura House informed Botelho that Maryland is “just an extension cord” for the mission, which might “go through the state” with out truly benefiting it, including that it will be “devastating” for locals and her farm if building strikes ahead.
“So, this is just putting transmission lines over this property,” McDowell responded. “I think that the United States would gladly saw off Maryland and kick it into the Atlantic Ocean if you don’t like it. … They’re trying to blame AI, it’s not AI … It’s something else. It’s called growth and development of business.”
PSEG’s Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project states on its web site that the proposed 67 miles of transmission traces and towers would “bolster the reliability of the state’s power grid,” noting that Maryland at present sources round 40% of its electrical energy from out-of-state.
However, a 2023 report by PJM, the nation’s largest Regional Transmission Organization, notes that the mission’s driving power is the speedy progress of knowledge facilities in northern Virginia. The proposed date of operation is June 2027.
“If there is a need for electricity generation and a conduit like power lines to bring electricity to a densely populated area of business and growth like northern Virginia, then it is not about AI, it is about economic growth for the United States, number one,” McDowell mentioned Friday.
“Number two, it is a tree farm — not growing food. The alternative would be some liberal puts some giant solar panels on that land, and you won’t be growing any Christmas trees, either.”
When co-host Brian Brenberg famous that he’s seen these “gross-looking” transmission traces and towers in particular person and argued that Gaver Farm will “lose all of its aesthetic appeal” if the mission strikes forward, McDowell doubled down, telling Americans to fall in line.
“Everybody needs to get on board,” she mentioned. “You know what? Buy a fake tree!”
McDowell’s “fake tree” suggestion led to a groan from McDowell’s co-hosts.
“A dagger right in my heart,” Brenberg informed McDowell, earlier than on-line critics joined in.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/fox-business-dagen-mcdowell-defends-ai-data-center-needs-over-christmas-tree-farm_n_693d7b8ae4b0d58462beb5e8