Amid a tech boom, electricians find themselves at the heart of an ethical dilemma. With Big Tech pouring billions into data center construction, unions like the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) argue that their members are 'powering the AI Revolution.' Yet, as the buildout accelerates, some workers grapple with whether they’re complicit in potential environmental and social harm.

One electrician, based in the Midwest, has stopped explaining his work. 'People tell me how terrible it is contributing to something like that,' he says, adding that such conversations often end abruptly.

In contrast, Ryan, an IBEW worker, refuses data center jobs altogether, viewing them through a lens of corporate greed and ethical compromise. He’s not alone; many electricians see their work as merely one of several exploitative industries they could be hired for.

Despite these concerns, Jesse, another union member, believes that if data centers are going to be built anyway, it's better for them to be unionized. His sentiment is echoed by Dante, who sees data center work as no different from any other low-paying job in a capitalist economy.

However, not all see this rationalization as valid. For some electricians, the ethical debate is a personal one. 'If work is tight and a company comes in wanting to build orphan-crushing machines, you'll get a lot of shrugged shoulders,' says an apprentice, highlighting the complex moral calculus that workers must navigate.