Residents of North Omaha, Nebraska, face a defeat in the fight for clean air with the expansion of the local coal-fired power plant. The company, which initially committed to shutting down its coal plant by 2023, faces conflicting priorities: eliminating toxic emissions and meeting the growing power demands of nearby Google and Meta* data centers. Guess what choice was made?
The rapid growth of these data centers, fueled by the increase in computing power required for artificial intelligence, has significantly increased electricity consumption in the region. The Omaha Public Power District warned that shutting down coal units “could destabilize the region’s electric grid.” While utilities blame regulatory delays and the slow rollout of renewables for the delay, critics say the high energy consumption of data centers is a major contributing factor.
As artificial intelligence spreads, a similar situation is emerging in other parts of the United States.
*Belongs to Meta, who is recognized as an extremist and banned in the Russian Federation
Source: Ferra
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