United States data centers generating their own power could emit the same amount of greenhouse gases as the nation of Australia, according to a new analysis by an environmental watchdog group looking at proposed projects.
The report from the Environmental Integrity Project examined announced data center projects that include on-site power generation from burning natural gas. The report’s authors identified 74 such projects and then used computer models to calculate that the pop-up power plants, if built, could emit 662 million tons of greenhouse gases annually.
The facilities, which are expected to generate 143 gigawatts of power altogether, would also emit some 159,142 tons of health-harming air pollution, including emissions that can trigger heart and asthma attacks.
Jen Duggan, executive vice president of the Environmental Integrity Project, said the report confirms her group’s belief that data centers should be powered by renewable energy, including solar, wind and battery storage.
