Data Center Power Play
Summary
UCS report on how clean energy can meet rising electricity demand from data centers while delivering climate and health benefits, focusing on policy strategies to avoid fossil fuel reliance.
Key quotes
Unmitigated data center growth puts the public at risk of large cost increases, from higher utility bills to public health costs to climate impacts.
Clean energy policies reduce air pollution and heat-trapping emissions from fossil fuels.
Restoring federal clean energy tax credits would reduce total US power plant emissions of CO2 by 33% between 2026 and 2035, even if data center demand more than doubles.
The climate and health benefits of reducing fossil fuels outweigh the costs of transitioning to clean energy.
The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) report, “Data Center Power Play,” explores how clean energy can address the rising electricity demand of data centers while mitigating climate and public health risks. It highlights the threat of unchecked data center growth, which could drastically increase fossil fuel dependency, electricity costs, and emissions. The report presents modeling results showing that clean energy solutions like wind, solar, and battery storage are viable, cost-effective alternatives to fossil fuels. UCS advocates for policies requiring data centers to pay for additional costs, adopting transparent long-term planning, and supporting equitable access to clean energy.