data centers eye north pole

And a couple of the spots sit less than a mile from a school.

The Air Force is offering up land around the base for private companies to build big AI data centers, and folks out near North Pole are paying close attention.

There are five possible spots on the table near the base. Some are right up against neighborhoods and private homes, and one is within walking distance of a middle school. Companies have until the end of June to put in their offers.

So why the worry? These places run thousands of computers around the clock, so they hum nonstop and they drink up a lot of water in an area that already sits on a high water table. Neighbors are also asking about backup generators in a spot that already battles some of the worst winter air in the country.

There's a power question too. A few of the sites would tie into the local electric grid, and people want to know whether that lands on everyday customers down the road.

The companies would have to line up their own power and water, at their own cost, and nobody has signed anything yet. But if you've got family out in the North Pole area, this is the one to keep an eye on, because the window closes in just days.