Jim Harris
DemocraticQ1 The cost of electricity and water are on the rise with nearby data centers straining current resources in combination with increased energy costs to consumers. How will you navigate the economic, public health, and environmental impacts when considering new data centers and data center permissions, in general?
I would first demand to know how AI datacenters will self-support their enormous energy and cooling (water) demands, and the environmental impacts of these huge datacenters. It seems fitting to encourage their use of sustainable energy options, and limit their use of water resources. First do no harm would be a guiding principle in assessing any request to build in NC. Further, I would require they pay their fair share of property and income taxes. Any permissions granted would be contingent on their compliance with these conditions, and a commitment to the complete restoration of the site and its environment should they close or abandon such facilities.
Q2 North Carolina is a growing hub for science and biotechnology industry and education. How will you ensure science workforce preparedness in community-based institutions like K–12 schools and community colleges across our state?
We have an imbalance of “community” education and funding disparities that can no longer be ignored. Reference: the Leandro Remediation Plan. I would significantly and equally increase NC funding/pupil to the national average at a minimum, and propose that the State provide a bond funding resolution for new public school construction and existing school update/renovation to encourage STEM-enabled facilities.
Q3 What steps, if any, do you believe government should take to protect public health and community wellbeing (e.g., vaccine access, environmental health risks such as PFAS or asbestos, disease prevention, or emergency preparedness)?
Institutions that have designed, developed, and refined our ability to address (and eliminate!) these threats are under attack and being dismantled at an incredible pace. This must stop. Fact-based monitoring, historical and empirical evidence, and sound planning policies should be prioritized and identified in parallel to deal with these challenges, with a cost and remediation/cleanup approach that places the majority of weight on the industries having benefitted from the sale/use of hazardous chemicals/products. On the other hand, companies or agencies investigating disease prevention and emergency preparedness should be financially supported by national and state agency funding (e.g., NIH).
Q4 As the world is becoming more information dense, science mistrust has grown. How do you think elected officials can work with scientists to build the general public’s trust in science?
Density of information does not reflect its quality or accuracy. Knowledge among NGO and policy leadership should “trump” the conspiracy theories and crackpot assumptions of causality that mislead the public. Peer review, data and methods transparency, and the ability to replicate results are academic guardrails that the public knows too little about. It’s time we honor science and scientists instead of “influencers” trying to make a buck, or build their list of “followers” on social media. Science has been a prime mover in accelerating America’s economy and world leadership. We can’t afford to go “back”, but we must measure and acknowledge the risks and the rewards of the solutions we invent and unleash on the public.