It always amazes me how streamlined the oil and gas industries are, and just how little of their profit actually benefits the communities they operate in. I feel like with most any other industry that amount of capital in an area would at least vicariously create some form of benefits or taxation for the local economy.
Cushing is a complete shithole relic from the oil boom of the 1920s. Pretty much every building they have on main street was built in the 1920s, and have been mostly vacant since the 30’s. There billions of dollars of oil being stored in the heart of the town while the people of Cushing grow up and die in poverty. Oklahoma is the most tragic state in the union, it’s like if the avarice of America manifested itself into reality as a state.
This, by the way, is how data centres work only worse. Even a hyperscale data centre in the gigawatt range is very unlikely to employ more than a hundred people. After initial construction - which will often be handled by out of state specialists, not locals - their effect on employment is basically nil. They’re sold to voters as a big deal for the community they’re in but in reality they just make noise, drink all the water and jack up power prices for no benefit.
It always amazes me how streamlined the oil and gas industries are, and just how little of their profit actually benefits the communities they operate in. I feel like with most any other industry that amount of capital in an area would at least vicariously create some form of benefits or taxation for the local economy.
Cushing is a complete shithole relic from the oil boom of the 1920s. Pretty much every building they have on main street was built in the 1920s, and have been mostly vacant since the 30’s. There billions of dollars of oil being stored in the heart of the town while the people of Cushing grow up and die in poverty. Oklahoma is the most tragic state in the union, it’s like if the avarice of America manifested itself into reality as a state.
This, by the way, is how data centres work only worse. Even a hyperscale data centre in the gigawatt range is very unlikely to employ more than a hundred people. After initial construction - which will often be handled by out of state specialists, not locals - their effect on employment is basically nil. They’re sold to voters as a big deal for the community they’re in but in reality they just make noise, drink all the water and jack up power prices for no benefit.
Louisiana has entered the chat
West Virginia will have something to say about this when they wake up from the daily methadone nap
It’s all true lol