Natural Gas Plant Push for Artificial Intelligence Data Centers Carries Environmental Risks
A report prepared by the Better Data Center Project and Earthjustice reveals that natural gas projects planned to power artificial intelligence data centers pose severe environmental, climate, and public health risks.
The rapid growth of the artificial intelligence sector is triggering the establishment of direct natural gas power plants to supply energy to data centers. Experts state that these projects bypass regulations, worsen the climate crisis, and threaten community health.
Natural Gas Move for Artificial Intelligence
The race to scale artificial intelligence technologies is rapidly accelerating the construction of new plants that run mostly on natural gas and aim to supply energy directly to data centers.
Environmental and Climate Impacts
It is estimated that approximately 80 percent of current natural gas proposals will derive their energy generation from gas, and these projects could increase sectoral emissions by releasing millions of tons of carbon dioxide equivalent annually.
It is stated that ozone and particulate matter pollution could lead to monetized health damages worth billions of dollars every year.
Inadequate Regulatory Oversight
The projects are advancing without sufficient oversight from agencies tasked with protecting the public and the planet, and they use various methods to bypass traditional planning processes.
Proposed in states with weak environmental laws, these projects face issues of secrecy and lack of transparency that limit public participation.
Economic Risks and Consumer Costs
There is no guarantee that natural gas projects will lower electricity bills; on the contrary, infrastructure demand and rising costs may create additional economic pressure on consumers.