AI data centers: Increasing power generation in the US without grid connection
AI data centers are springing up in the US, and their power consumption is immense. Increasingly, this is to be covered by gas power without grid connection.
Artistic representation of a planned facility in Texas, power plants in the lower right
(Image: Pacifico Energy)
The major tech corporations in the US are increasingly relying on power generation not connected to the grid for building AI infrastructure, with potentially far-reaching consequences not only for environmental and climate protection. The Washington Post reports this and names a whole series of projects being developed for Meta, OpenAI, Oracle, and even the oil company Chevron, among others. They usually rely on gas power plants because they are considered more reliable than photovoltaic or wind energy. However, because the most efficient gas turbines have long delivery times, less environmentally friendly ones are being used. At the same time, it is unclear what will happen when these have to be shut down for the regularly required maintenance work.
The construction boom in AI data centers has been a cause for concern in the US for some time. When it came to the immense power demand, the focus so far has primarily been on the fact that the facilities could drive up electricity prices for everyone. However, the fact that a veritable “shadow grid” is currently emerging has not yet been extensively discussed. The Washington Post explains that the planned facilities are likely to drive up greenhouse gas emissions. “This is catastrophic for climate goals,” the newspaper quotes an expert on renewable energy sources. In addition, the sometimes immense power plants are partly being built in areas where such a thing was never intended and the population does not agree.
Immense facilities planned
To illustrate the full extent, the newspaper refers to a project in the US state of West Virginia. Gas power plants are to be built on the Monarch Compute Campus, which could initially supply 1.5 million households with electricity – only about 1.8 million people live in West Virginia in total. If the capacity is later quadrupled as planned, that would be “many times the electricity needed by all residents” of the entire state. Meanwhile, a complex of dozens of data centers is being built in West Texas, which will require more electricity than Chicago. This is also intended to be generated independently of the power grid. Similar projects are said to exist in New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Wyoming, Utah, Ohio, and Tennessee.
Videos by heise
Even if the power plants are not connected to the grid, they could cause consumer prices to rise, the US newspaper further explains. It points out that the rush for the necessary technology could put pressure on other power plant operators. The construction is reportedly supported by numerous state laws that have reduced the requirements for building power plants. However, a turnaround might be imminent. Resistance to data centers is growing, and six states have already introduced legislation to stop the construction of new, huge AI data centers.
(mho)
