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Environmental Burden of United States Data Centers in the Artificial Intelligence Era

Secondary report arXiv
Published: 2024-11-15 Accessed: 2026-10-14
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Summary

Study analyzes 2,132 U.S. data centers, finding 4.59% electricity use and 105M tons CO2e from fossil fuels in 2023-2024, with carbon intensity 48% above U.S. average.

This report presents a comprehensive analysis of the environmental impact of 2,132 U.S. data centers operating between September 2023 and August 2024. The study highlights their significant electricity consumption (4.59% of U.S. total) and carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions, primarily driven by fossil fuels. The report also underscores the challenges in regulating these emissions due to discrepancies between energy consumption locations and power generation hubs. Additionally, it discusses the role of AI-driven demand in exacerbating energy use and emissions.