Sierra Club analysis: fossil power for AI data centers could lift US power-sector CO2 42% above 2025 levels by 2030

Thu, Oct 29 13:13 UTC+8Updated Fri, Oct 30 01:10 UTC+8

An internal Sierra Club analysis estimates that if planned AI data centers are built, US power-sector CO2 would hit about 2.1 billion tons in 2030, up 618 million tons or roughly 42% from 2025, mostly from off-grid gas plants. The estimate is higher than others, such as a June academic study projecting up to 28%, and depends on what gets built.

Why it matters

The energy and emissions cost of the AI buildout is becoming central to data center siting, permitting and local opposition, and estimates vary widely.

Sources2

BloombergMediaThu, Oct 29 13:13 UTC+8New Data Centers Projected to Emit More Carbon Than All of MexicoView original · via Insurance Journal · Thu, Oct 29 13:13 UTC+8
The VergeMediaFri, Oct 30 01:10 UTC+8Data centers could send US climate pollution skyrocketingView original · Fri, Oct 30 01:10 UTC+8

Written by dalao.ai: the title, summary and why it matters are our own words. The original reports are the record; their publishers keep authorship.