Attrition is a Web site which monitors computer attacks. Some think so. The Silicon Valley, for instance, saw power demands jump 12 percent last year, compared with 2-3 percent for the rest of the state. He said the Silicon Valley power demand could double in the next two or three years. Another observer said that other areas, such as Seattle and Phoenix, also could eventually be at risk because of high demand from computer centers.
Expert opinions differ on energy use of computers.
These say a personal computer on the Internet takes 600 to 1000 watts per year, roughly equal to a refrigerator. Other experts, however, say the computer burden on electrical demand is minimal, especially when compared to the drain of a big manufacturing plant. Among key issues President Bush will face immediately are several related to the Internet and computer technology. The first one is likely to be privacy. As many as two dozen bills dealing with computer privacy may be introduced in the new Congress.