Few people will ever set foot in a data center, but most ratepayers see evidence of their existence each time they use the internet and pay higher electric bills.
What's happening?
Energy expert Lizzie Irwin, from the Center for Humane Technology, recently joined EnergySage senior researcher Kristina Zagame on the Plugged In podcast, where they broke down "how the AI boom hits closer to home than most people realize."
EnergySage provides free, expert-guided tools and curated quotes to help homeowners install solar panels at the best price. It's one of the fastest ways to counter surging electricity rates. Rising bills are thanks in large part to power-hungry data centers that are needed to power growing artificial intelligence use, as NPR and Goldman Sachs reported.
A portion of the interview appeared on Instagram.
"I don't think the tech itself is at fault," Irwin said. "It's sort of like the paradigm we're in. It's an industry known for developing full speed ahead without much concern for the externalities, and in this case that's coming at the expense of our communities, our consumers."
Data Center Map reported that there are 4,088 data centers across the United States, with a large group of 579 of them in southern Virginia. Each one provides computing power that has become crucial to daily life. But they also have severe environmental repercussions.
Why is the data center 'paradigm' important?
The Environmental and Energy Study Institute reported that large data centers consume 5 million gallons of water a day, or enough for a town of up to 50,000 people. Harmful air pollution and grid strain are among other detriments Irwin noted. As for cost, she said that average national electric rates have spiked 30% since 2020.
In some cases, tech developers utilize cleaner solar, which is also among the cheapest and fastest energy sources to develop at scale, per Lazard. But many other companies are reported to be pursuing methane gas plants that contribute to poor air quality, according to Marketplace and Cleanview.
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Concerned community members have pushed back, and in many cases, they have delayed the construction of data centers.
It's a scenario that caused podcast host Zagame to ask Irwin: "Would you say this technology is truly serving us?"
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Staying informed about data center activity, especially in your neighborhood, can help you advocate for policy that will protect your community early in the process.
Home solar is a safeguard against energy-related problems caused by massive computing hubs, and EnergySage's experts can help you save up to $10,000 on panels and installation. The service's handy mapping tool compares prices by state, as well as identifying incentives that are available to help make the upgrade more affordable.
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