"When Amazon proposed building its Project Blue data center in Tucson, Arizona, the company faced intense pushback. Residents raised concerns about the enormous amounts of water and electricity that the data center would need, two major ways such projects impact the environment, especially in a desert city. Ultimately, Tucson's town council rejected the proposal (though its developer hasn't given up). But the story highlights both the growing environmental impacts of data centers, and how location matters to that impact."
"The current rate of AI growth in the U.S. would put 24 to 44 million metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere by 2030, the study authors found. That's equivalent to adding 5 to 10 million cars to the country's roads. That growth would also drain 731 to 1,125 million cubic meters of water every year-as much as 6 to 10 million Americans' annual average household water usage."
A proposed Project Blue data center in Tucson faced intense pushback and was rejected because of concerns about enormous water and electricity needs in a desert city. Data centers draw large amounts of electricity, straining the energy grid and prompting new fossil-fuel infrastructure while delaying planned coal retirements. Continued AI-driven growth could add 24 to 44 million metric tons of CO2 by 2030 and consume 731 to 1,125 million cubic meters of water annually, comparable to millions of households. Such trajectories make net-zero aspirations unlikely by 2030 without heavy reliance on uncertain carbon offsets or water restoration. State-by-state siting strategies can reduce the worst environmental effects.
Read at Fast Company
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