Data center construction is exploding as the need for processing power for artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency, and other capacity-hungry processes has exploded as well. This means demand for power is at an all-time high. And while many organizations building data centers are working to thoughtfully implement sustainable and energy efficient construction and operation practices, the fact that electricity demand is outpacing capacity means that many locals are having to rethink plans to retire dirty coal-fired power plants.
For instance, in 2021 Georgia Power announced plans to shutter all of its coal-fired power plants as a step to remove “uneconomic” electricity generation from its grid. Even if greenhouse gas emissions reductions weren’t the primary goal, the move was applauded by environmentalists as an important step towards climate change mitigation.
Now, however, Georgia Power has set forth a long-term plan to meet the massive spike in electricity that includes more renewable energy, upgrades to nuclear power plants, a new nuclear power plant coming online, and delaying the closure of coal-fired plants, according to Grist.
In Northern Virginia, where according to the Washington Post, data centers power 70 percent of the global digital traffic, the demand for power is so acute that surveyors are already working to build more transmission lines from coal-fired plants located in West Virginia.
The national backslide to dirty electricity has caused several states to report they are likely to miss their climate goals. California, Illinois, New York, and Oregon are four states who are not on target to meet their 2030 emission reduction and renewable energy goals, according to WBEZ.
Greg Zimmerman is senior contributing editor for FacilitiesNet.com and Building Operating Management magazine.
