Big Tech needs to do its fair share to mitigate the impacts of data centers. #
In the last two years, AI technology has moved at light speed. Powering these advancements are data centers – buildings housing rows of servers that bring AI, cloud computing, and high-speed internet to our smartphones and laptops.
But all this computing power comes at a high cost.
- The eight largest utilities in the West are collectively forecasting a staggering increase in energy demand of more than 50% in the next decade alone fueled by data centers.
- If the growth projections from the region’s utilities become reality, new data centers in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah could use 4.5 billion gallons of water annually by 2030 and 7 billion gallons in 2035 – that’s water we simply don’t have to spare in the arid West.
The challenge? This explosive growth in energy and water demands threatens the West’s ability to avoid the worst impacts of climate change and could have both health and economic consequences for our communities if this growth isn’t managed properly. Without some common sense guardrails, everyday people and small businesses across the West could end up end up footing the bill for the cost of data center infrastructure while developers turn a large profit and get tax breaks. These customers and businesses could pay significantly more in energy costs while also breathing dirtier air from increased emissions and facing depleting critical water resources.
But there’s a better path forward. #
Higher energy bills, increased air pollution, strain on water supplies, and other community and environmental impacts can easily be avoided with common-sense guardrails for data center development. That’s why we’re calling on Big Tech and data center developers to do their fair share as the industry grows to protect everyday Americans and the places we love. Policies like requiring water efficiency measures, allowing data centers to develop their own clean energy resources, and protecting customers through contract provisions can ensure that we move into the future and shepherd growth and innovation in a smart and sustainable way – without depleting our resources and passing on costs to households already struggling with ballooning energy bills.
