All articles tagged with #energy consumption
Data centers power the internet and AI, but their massive cooling and water needs are fueling a growing backlash; global electricity use by data centers was about 1.5% in 2024 and could rise by 2030, while newer designs aim to reuse water as tech giants expand capacity.
Governor Josh Shapiro signed an executive order to sharply curb data-center development in Pennsylvania by requiring local approvals, imposing stringent environmental, land-use, and energy requirements (including bringing their own power and a 10% clean-energy target), and ending the data-center “fast-track” program, signaling tougher scrutiny for roughly 100 proposed projects and reflecting growing concerns over energy and water usage.
New York will pause state permits for new large hyperscale data centers for up to a year so regulators can develop environmental, energy-use, and water-usage standards, with Gov. Hochul signing an executive order to implement the safeguards.
Google says its rapid AI infrastructure growth is outpacing efficiency gains, with electricity demand up 37%, greenhouse gas emissions up 18%, and water use up 34% in its data centers, even as it signs record clean-energy deals and argues AI could lower emissions elsewhere.
Across the U.S., opposition to AI-ready data centers is mounting on both sides of the aisle, fueled by concerns about higher electricity bills, water use, noise, land use, and tax incentives; polls show about 70% nationally oppose local data centers, including 75% of Democrats and 63% of Republicans, signaling a rare cross‑partisan backlash. The movement is a mosaic of local fights driven by distrust of tech giants and rising living costs, with potential to spur guardrails or dissolve as politics shift.
A study finds that the first quarter of 2026 saw at least 75 blocked or delayed data-center projects worth about $130 billion—the most in any three-month period since tracking began—driven by a surge in opposition groups (to 833 across 49 states) and a wave of regulatory proposals, including moratorium bills in 14 states and federal discussions, signaling a shift from incentives to oversight as AI energy demands grow.
Kevin O'Leary defended his 40,000-acre Utah data center project, calling critics "professional protesters" and alleging some opposition is funded or amplified by artificial intelligence. The project was unanimously approved despite environmental concerns; when complete, the build-out is expected to consume about 9 GW and generate and use more energy than Utah currently uses.
A growing bloc of progressives on Capitol Hill is backing a nationwide moratorium on new data centers to slow energy and water use, with Sen. Bernie Sanders leading and Rep. Pramila Jayapal rallying behind it; supporters say a pause would let regulators catch up as the White House pushes AI growth, while Democrats across the spectrum warn it could hurt competitiveness, with local and state moves (New York, Denver) and mixed public opinion shaping the debate.
Meta spent $6.4 million on a nationwide ad campaign to frame its data centers as job-creating community anchors, but critics warn about energy and water use and a broader public backlash, contributing to a wider industry lobbying push as AI infrastructure expands and some projects face delays or cancellations.
Veteran money manager George Noble warns OpenAI shows warning signs—rising costs, fierce competition, talent exodus, and potential legal fights—making AI-adjacent bets high risk. He advises trimming exposure to Magnificent 7 AI plays and rotating into fundamentals-based assets like gold and select small-/mid-cap stocks, arguing that valuations don’t reflect risk and that smarter money is seeking steadier bets amid an AI hype cycle cooling.
Leaving your TV on all the time can lead to increased energy consumption, potential wear and tear, and safety concerns, but modern TVs are designed to handle continuous operation to some extent. It's generally more energy-efficient and safer to turn off your TV when not in use.
A single large AI-focused data center can consume more energy than 5,000 homes, with some centers using enough electricity to power 100,000 households, leading to community opposition due to concerns over electricity costs and grid strain.
Communities across the US are increasingly opposing new data center projects due to concerns over high energy and water use, pollution, and local impacts, leading to delays and cancellations of billions of dollars in investments, with opposition expected to grow as data center development accelerates.
Data centers in the Chicago area are contributing to rising electric bills, with some suburbs like Aurora pausing new developments to study their impact, as experts warn that without regulation, utility costs could increase significantly by 2028.
Despite rising electricity bills in the US, the increase isn't primarily due to data centers, which are often blamed for high energy consumption, but the article suggests other factors are at play.