Federal regulators back Trump's plan to speed power to energy-hungry AI data centers

[progree]

4. Not to mention greenhouse gas emissions - most AI being powered by natural gas

More natural gas-fired generation are currently in development to power US data centers than California's entire generating capacity from all sources combined. (this is something I posted back in April). California's economy is the 4th largest in the world.

As data center developers face lengthy wait times to connect to electricity grids and rising concerns over consumer electric bills, they’re increasingly turning to building their own energy, or what’s known as behind-the-meter power. For these projects, gas is king; data centers are now driving a US boom in natural gas. Nearly 100 gigawatts ((100,000 MW -progree)) of natural-gas fired power are currently in development throughout the US solely to power data centers, according to research ( https://www.wired.com/story/data-centers-are-driving-a-us-gas-boom/ ) published by the nonprofit Global Energy Monitor in January.

More: https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=edit&forum=1069&thread=14093&pid=14093

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Another equivalence that might be more relatable --

The amount of natural-gas-fired generation in development just to power near-future U.S. data centers is equivalent, in greenhouse gas emissions, to adding 100 MILLION ADDITIONAL gasoline-fueled cars to the roads. All that mostly just for AI and cryptocurrency mining.