From KCRW in Santa Monica and PRI, Public Radio International, this is To the Point.

Is Internet technology really clean technology?

Hello again, I'm Armin Alney, and this is To the Poet from Public Radio International.

A daily look at the issues, Americans care about most.

Internet companies tell computer users their data is stored on the cloud, and a lot of them worry it might be disturbed by the weather.

In reality, the cloud is millions of servers in hundreds of warehouse-sized buildings that can use enough electricity to power a medium-sized town.

The New York Times has created a furor by raising questions about how much energy is wasted

to make so much information available 24-7.

What about air pollution?

Can the IT industry power unstoppable growth?

Or will it hit a brick wall?

On Reporters' Notebook later, American Politics and The Lie Factory.

First, here's the news.

Support for To the Point comes from the members of KCRW and from the Public Radio International Program Fund.

Hello again, Marman Allene.

Back with To the Point.

Internet technology now uses more

electrical power than any other American industry except for manufacturing. How much energy is

wasted to keep your information available full time? Is there a dark side to the cloud?

On reporters' notebook, we'll hear how the politics we know today has been shaped by two

California campaign consultants who went into business in 1933. We'll hear how the politics we know today has been shaped by two California campaign

consultants who went into business in 1933. We'll hear about Whitaker and Baxter. First, this news

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