Data centers could send US climate pollution skyrocketing

A new analysis by the Sierra Club predicts that the US power sector could release 42% more carbon dioxide pollution by 2030 due to increased demand for electricity from data centers, which could undo 15 years of greenhouse gas reductions. This is equivalent to the carbon pollution from the electricity use of 128,788,523 homes in a year. The estimate is higher than previous projections, which forecast a 28% increase in power sector emissions from data centers and crypto mines. The increase in emissions is due to planned data center projects, including those incentivized by the Trump administration, which is also rolling back pollution regulations and stalling renewable energy projects.