Environmental organizations urge to stop building new data centers in the USA
Over 230 environmental organizations, including Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, and Food Water Watch, called on the US Congress to support a moratorium on the approval and construction of new data centers. In an open letter, they warn that the uncontrolled growth of such facilities fuels artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency, worsening the environmental situation, raising electricity tariffs, and threatening water security.
What is known
According to data, energy consumption by data centers in the USA may increase from 40 to 106 gigawatts by 2035. The greatest pressure is expected in Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, and New Jersey, where the largest capacity growth is planned.
A Sunrun survey showed that 80% of consumers are already concerned about the impact of data centers on their utility bills. This year, electricity tariffs in the country increased by 13% - the highest in the last decade.
Last week, a protest took place in Detroit against the energy company DTE's plans to supply OpenAI and Oracle with electricity for a giant 1.4 GW data center. In Wisconsin, three people were arrested who disrupted discussions about building another large center of 902 MW - part of the Stargate project by the same companies.
Source: Official letter from environmental organizations to the US Congress
