Amazon’s $1B plan to combat data center backlash draws more backlash

What happened: Amazon committed more than $1 billion over five years to communities near its data centers, with AWS CEO Matt Garman saying residents would set funding priorities. Key numbers: More than $1 billion over five years. Amazon pledged to be "water positive" by 2030 and said 75 percent of projects already meet that goal. Why it matters: Stand.Earth called the donations a "flailing attempt at damage control" and said Amazon is being "misleading," citing its plan to back a power plant expected to become the largest source of US climate pollution.

Amazon committed more than $1 billion over five years to communities near its data centers, with AWS CEO Matt Garman saying residents would set funding priorities.

Stand.Earth called the donations a "flailing attempt at damage control" and said Amazon is being "misleading," citing its plan to back a power plant expected to become the largest source of US climate pollution.