"The problem is that this practice of using 'behind-the-meter power' has led to a 'crazy acceleration of emissions,' said Michael Thomas, founder of the clean energy firm Cleanview, which has been tracking data center gas permits."
"It's almost like we thought we were on the downside of the Industrial Revolution, retiring coal and gas, and now we have a new hump where we're going to rise. That terrifies me in a lot of ways."
"The biggest potential belcher in Wired's analysis is Project Matador, a titanic proposed campus in the Texas panhandle which secured a permit to generate six gigawatts of gas power earlier this year."
"With projected CO2 emissions of over 40 million tons annually, this single facility could potentially release more greenhouse gases than the nation of Jordan."
Gas-powered data centers in the US are rapidly increasing, driven by the AI industry's demand for immediate energy solutions. These facilities often use gas power to avoid delays associated with local power grids, leading to a significant rise in emissions. The use of 'behind-the-meter power' has resulted in nearly 100 gigawatts of gas power being developed for data centers by 2027, a drastic increase from four gigawatts in 2024. Major projects like Project Matador could emit more CO2 than entire nations.
Read at Futurism
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