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Big Tech’s Affordability Fight is Finally Here | TechPolicy.Press
Big Tech faces scrutiny over the economic costs of data centers, as rising utility bills and tax breaks impact consumers and state budgets. With a growing public backlash, tech companies are pledging to address these issues amid political pressures, particularly as affordability becomes a key electoral concern. Recent polls indicate that many voters believe data…
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Fission for Algorithms: The Undermining of Nuclear Regulation in Service of AI – AI Now Institute
AI companies seek five to 50 gigawatts of nuclear power for data centers, driving three fast-tracking paths: weakening radiation safety standards like LNT and ALARA, using large language models to generate nuclear licensing documents and promoting unproven Small Modular Reactors on infeasible timelines. Analyzes how each raises public radiation exposure and proliferation risks.
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Senators Demand to Know How Much Energy Data Centers Use | WIRED
No federal agency collects energy-use data from data centers. Senators Warren and Hawley press the EIA to require comprehensive annual disclosures for grid planning and ratepayer protection.
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Data Center Energy Demand Should be Contested
Data center power demand distorts energy markets and strains grids. Climate & Community Institute calls for democratic grid planning and moratoriums over accommodating Big Tech's load growth.
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Environmental Burden of United States Data Centers in the Artificial Intelligence Era
US data centers produce 105 million tons of CO2e per year, with a carbon intensity 48 percent higher than the national average. A Harvard analysis of 2,132 facilities across 52 grid regions shows 56 percent of data center electricity comes from fossil fuels. Virginia, Texas and Oregon generate the most emissions.
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Electricity Consumption & Grid Strain
The rapid expansion of data centers, especially AI and hyperscale facilities, places extraordinary demands on the U.S. electrical grid. By 2030, national consumption by data centers is projected to increase from 17 GW in 2022 to 130 GW, representing roughly 12% of total U.S. electricity demand. Large campuses can use as much energy as entire…
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Virginia Data Centers Face Seven-Year Wait for Power Hookups, Dominion Says
Dominion Energy projects a seven-year wait for large data centers seeking grid connections in Virginia, up from four years. The extended timeline targets facilities drawing more than 100 megawatts and reflects a surge in interconnection requests straining the state's power infrastructure.
Exposing AI Data Center Threats and Harms