Read All About It Publishers releases Lance Luke’s book on AI data center costs

Read All About It Publishers has released a new nonfiction book by building expert Lance Luke that examines the environmental and community impacts of AI data centers. The book focuses on power, water, zoning, safety and long-term liability as AI infrastructure expands.

Why it matters: - AI growth depends on physical infrastructure that can strain local power grids, water systems and public services. - The book argues communities should evaluate data centers as long-term construction projects, not just as sources of tax revenue or short-term jobs. - The release lands as cities and counties face more proposals for large-scale AI and cloud computing facilities.

What happened: - Read All About It Publishers announced the release of Data Centers: The Hidden Environmental and Community Costs of the AI Boom by National Building Expert Lance Luke. - The book is nonfiction and examines the infrastructure behind artificial intelligence and cloud computing. - The book is available in paperback and eBook through Amazon. - More information about the book and other publications is available at Read All About It Publishers.

The details: - Luke says digital services depend on large buildings filled with servers, electrical equipment, cooling systems, backup generators, battery systems and other industrial components. - The book covers 15 chapters. - Topics include energy consumption, grid capacity, water use, cooling systems, electronic waste, hardware turnover, site-selection risks, permits, zoning and code compliance. - The book also addresses air quality, backup power, emergency systems and long-term liability. - Luke says the book is not an argument against artificial intelligence. - The focus is on transparency, responsible planning and community protection. - Luke writes, "The cloud is not an ethereal concept. The cloud storage is a building." - The book examines how data center development may affect nearby residents, public utilities, local governments and property owners. - Luke says communities should understand what is being proposed before permits are issued and before infrastructure commitments become hard to reverse. - Luke writes, "Problems are significantly cheaper and easier to fix before the concrete is poured." - The book includes questions for residents, planning commissioners, elected officials and other decision-makers. - Those questions cover projected electricity demand, water requirements, noise, emissions, fire and emergency planning, utility upgrades, tax incentives, future expansion, public reporting and end-of-life decommissioning responsibilities. - The book outlines a responsible-development approach built around public disclosure, independent technical review, engineering and safety standards, enforceable community agreements and financial accountability for maintenance or abandonment. - Luke brings more than 45 years of experience in construction, real estate, building evaluation and business development. - The book is written for homeowners, community advocates, public officials, planners, attorneys, engineers, construction professionals, developers and readers who want a clearer view of how AI infrastructure interacts with the built environment.

Between the lines: - The book reflects growing tension between AI expansion and local infrastructure limits. - The framing suggests the biggest risks are not abstract technology concerns but costs that show up in zoning hearings, utility planning and long-term maintenance. - By centering disclosure and review before permits, the book pushes for earlier public scrutiny of projects that can be difficult to undo once construction begins.

What's next: - The book is now being sold to readers looking for guidance on evaluating proposed data centers. - Luke and the publisher are positioning the title as a reference for public officials and professionals involved in land use, engineering and development decisions. - The publisher says Data Centers is part of The Word According to Luke series.

The bottom line: - The release turns AI data centers into a land-use and community-impact issue, not just a tech story.