When you cross into Loudon County, Virginia, one of the first things you notice is the hum - that's the sound of 199 data centres whirring in the background.
Few people have heard of this inconspicuous part of northern Virginia, which also happens to be the wealthiest county in America. But Loudon was on everyone's radar earlier this week, when a massive global Amazon outage downed everything from crucial banking services to fun Snapchat streaks for millions.
That's because the county is home to the world's largest swath of data storage and processing facilities - even outpacing China.
Data centres - dedicated spaces for computer systems that help power the internet and artificial intelligence - are essential to our global connectivity.
But while they have proven to be a lucrative business - contributing billions to the local economy - some residents worry the cost comes at too high a price.
