data centers
Newsletter
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Data centers in Washington are jeopardizing the state’s green energy goals
Washington's push for carbon neutrality by 2030 is at odds with tax incentives promoting energy-intensive data centers, which strain the power grid and threaten green energy efforts.
Lulu Ramadan and Sydney Brownstone report for The Seattle Timesin partnership with ProPublica.
In short:
- Grant County's data centers, drawn by cheap hydroelectricity, now consume more power than any other local sector, leading to an energy crunch.
- The state’s hydropower is finite, forcing counties to use unspecified, often carbon-emitting, energy sources to meet rising demand.
- Legislative efforts to study data center energy consumption were vetoed, leaving gaps in understanding their impact on the power grid.
Key quote:
“Our existing hydro system is pretty much tapped out. So you’ve got a dilemma of how you’ll meet this additional load from data centers with clean resources or, frankly, with any resources.”
— Randall Hardy, energy consultant and former administrator of Bonneville Power Administration.
Why this matters:
Balancing economic growth and environmental goals is critical as data centers increase energy demand, potentially undermining the state's commitment to green energy and leading to higher electricity rates and reliability issues.
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Credit: Andrey Metelev/Unsplash
Rising electricity needs test US climate ambitions
A surge in power demand poses challenge to U.S. climate goals, driven by data centers and EVs.
Brad Plumer and Nadja Popovich report for The New York Times.
In short:
- The U.S. sees an unexpected surge in electricity demand due to data centers, manufacturing growth, and electric vehicles, doubling utilities' forecasts for 2028.
- This surge strains electric grids and could increase reliance on fossil fuels, potentially derailing efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
- Utilities argue the need for more fossil fuel plants due to slow growth of renewable energy sources and the continuous power demand from new industries.
Key quote:
"I can’t recall the last time I was so alarmed about the country’s energy trajectory."
— Tyler H. Norris, a former solar developer and expert in power systems
Why this matters:
As America grapples with this surge in power use, the ripple effects could touch everyone— from increased energy bills to challenges in meeting climate commitments.
With solar leading the way, clean energy capacity growth is helping the planet avoid billions of tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year.
Photo by Jason Blackeye on Unsplash
A new type of geothermal power plant just made the internet a little greener
A new approach to geothermal energy makes it possible to tap the energy of hot rocks just about anywhere. A pilot plant in Nevada is now helping to power Google data centers.
Top Story
Clean energy quest pits Google against utilities
Google says it can’t meet its goals for renewable power unless state-regulated utilities, particularly in the Southeast, give way to market competition.
Top Story
Europe’s hidden energy crisis: Data centers
Brussels zones in on digital economy’s heavy energy and water use.
Heat waves can overheat data centres, causing outages
As heat waves become more common and extreme due to the effects of climate change, the data centres that provide the backbone for the online services the public relies on are at risk of overheating.
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