Environmental organizations are intensifying their call for a pause in the establishment of new data centers as energy requirements surge in the digital age. Over 230 groups, including Food and Water Watch, Friends of the Earth, and Greenpeace, have united in urging Congress to endorse a nationwide moratorium on approving and building new data facilities.
The letter issued by the coalition expresses concerns over the escalating electricity and water consumption associated with data centers. It highlights the potential detrimental impacts of the unchecked growth of data centers, driven by the demand for artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency, on communities, economic stability, environmental health, climate conditions, and water resources.
Recent studies have correlated the establishment of new data centers with increased energy costs in regions where they are located. A survey by solar installer Sunrun reveals that 80% of consumers are concerned about data centers potentially inflating their utility bills.
With electricity prices already rising by 13% this year, the effects are projected to be most pronounced in states like Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, and New Jersey, which are slated for significant expansions in data center capacities. The anticipated tripling of energy demand for data centers by 2035, from 40 gigawatts to 106 gigawatts, with much of the growth occurring in rural areas, underscores the urgency of the situation.
Source: TechCrunch
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